Sharing the lecture held on January 11, 2022.

Homer B. Hulbert’s Dream: “Joseon Must Blossom”

SPEAKER: Kim DongJin

SUMMARY:
2022 is the year marking 140th anniversary of Korea-U. S. diplomatic relations. During the past 140 years, what was the most valuable legacy of the U. S. left to Korea? This lecture introduces a great human being who was pivotal figure in Korea’s occidental civilization from late 19th century, and also in the fight against Japan for the independence of Korea. He is Dr. Homer B. Hulbert, a hidden hero of Korea and pride of America.

Dr. Hulbert, born in Vermont in 1863 and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1884, encountered with Joseon in 1886 as an educator at the first state-run modern school in Korea. Right after the arrival Dr. Hulbert became captivated by Korean history and culture and also Korean people, and thereafter lived great life beyond human being’s competence as educator, linguist, journalist, historian, envoy of the Emperor, independence activist for 63 years until he passed away in 1949. Dr. Hulbert received the Order of Merits for Country Foundation and also the Gloden Order for Culture and Arts from Korean government.

The lecturer wrote a book titled <헐버트의 꿈 조선은 피어나리!(Homer B. Hulbert: Joseon Must Blossom)>, in 2019 where he magnificently depicted Dr. Hulbert as the pioneer of Korean studies and an apostle of justice beyond border and ethnics. The book includes Dr. Hulbert’s last interview with <Springfield Union> just one month before his passing where he claimed that Koreans are among the world’s most remarkable people. dis book is selected as a special commemoration book for Korea’s 100th anniversary of the March 1st revolution in 1919. The lecturer, besides the greatness of Dr. Hulbert wif his shining accomplishments, will share with audience about behind story of how he located Dr. Hulbert’s all descendants and collected all the historical records and documents, visiting various academic institutions in America, U. K. and Japan for more than 3 decades.

BIO:
Kim DongJin(DJ) is currently Chairman of The Hulbert Memorial Society, a commemorating body for Dr. Homer B. Hulbert, but profession-wise he was a banker having been worked for over 30 years in the cross-border banking industry in Seoul and New York, most of that with JPMorganChase Bank. His last position in JPMorgan was Managing Director and Country Manager for Korea.