In Joseon (Korea) in the 33rd year (1896) of King Gojong‘s rule a French person, Emile Martel (1874-1949), established the French Language School in Seoul as a governmental institute in Jong-ro-gu, now known as Susong-dong (Korean: 수송동). Martel arrived in Korea in July 1894 at the age of only twenty years old. Subsequently this school closed in King Gwangmu’s 10th year (1906).
A student of the French School in Pak-dong
The establishment of a French school was based on the edict “Official Regulation No. 88” for the foreign language school dated May 12, 1895, but it actually opened the following year, in 1896.
Regarding the establishment of a French school by Martel, according to a reporter of the Joseon newspaper named Kosaka Sadao, Hutchison at that time became the principal of the English school and opened the first foreign language school.
(My Online Exhibition of KOREA Stamps 1884-1905 can be seen at: https://koreastamps1884-1905.com)
An excellent article Joel. When Ivo and I were writing the Plum Blossom article for the American Philatelic Society’s “The American Philately” magazine and looking at the history of Korean in the late 1880’s, I found a bit of information about the establishment of the French School. Your article adds so much more to what I had previously discovered ….thanks. Robert
Thank you, Robert.
I also thank you for your long time great contribution for KSS.
Please, be safe and healthy!
Joel.