Tongnip sinmun
| Tongnip sinmun | |
| Hangul | 독립신문 |
|---|---|
Tongnip Sinmun (The Independent) newspaper
The Tongnip Sinmun (독립신문/獨立新聞) or the Independent newspaper was the first privately-managed modern daily newspaper in Korea founded in 1869 by one of the enlightened Korean intelligentsias, Seo Jae-pil (later known as Philp Jaisohn). It constituted two different language editions; Korean and English. Originally, it was published every other day and developed into a daily newspaper.
Background of foundation
The key figure was undeniably Seo Jae-pil. After the failure of the Gapsin Coup in 1884, Seo sought refugee in the United States. He heard the news from Park Young-hyo that he was pardoned from the charge of high treason as of Mar. 1895 and his Gaehwapa comrades came to power during his exile. He thus decided to return to Korea in December of that year.
The Prime Minister, Kim Hong-jip persuaded him to join the cabinet as the Woepu-hyupan (the Minister of Foreign affairs). However, Seo rejected the proposal, urging the necessity of grassroots’ enlightenment as a more urgent matter than his entry into the cabinet. Seo viewed the absence of support from the populous as the primary cause of the Gapsin Coup failure. He also judged that the success of the Gabo reform (1885) relied solely on the support from the people. In order to achieve this support, it was more impending to have an enlightening newspaper as means of mass media than anything else.
Accordingly, Seo Jae-pil and Yu Kil-jun reached an agreement to establish a non-governmental newspaper company in Jan 1896 and publish both Korean and English editions of the newspaper beginning Mar. 1st in the same year. The Kim Hong-jip cabinet backed up the plan vehemently. Actually, the cabinet promised to grant him a fund (300 won a month) from the government budget and even appointed Seo as an advisor of Jungchu-won.
Even though the collapse of the Kim cabinet brought about loss of such a prominent supporting figure as Yu Gil-jun, Seo could receive the plan’s re-approval to establish the newspaper from the following Park Jung-yang cabinet. The Park cabinet spent 3,000 won plus another 1,400 won on the founding fund and his living expenses respectively. Seo purchased a printer and printing types from Japan. He rented a government-owned building in Jung-dong, launched Tongnip Sinmun-sa Seoul and published its first edition in Apr. 1886. In short, Tongnip Sinmun was the joint work between Seo Jae-pil and governmental support both Kim and Park cabinet.
Seo Jae-pil was chief editor. for the editorial sections of both the Korean and English versions and Joo Si-gyung acted as a assistant editor of this historic paper. At the time it was published, it was a tabloid newspaper (8.6 x 12.9) published three times a week (every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays), comprising 4 pages in total. The first three pages were printed in Korean and the last page in English entitled “the Independent”. Unlike existing governmental bulletins, it covered practical contents. It generally covered editorial, local items, official gazette, digest of domestic and foreign news and miscellaneous information including advertisements.
Development and Discontinuance
The Tongnip Sinmun experienced four phases from its start to discontinuance. The first phase refers to the period from Apr. 7th to Jul. 2nd in 1896, which was the interval period between the first publication of newspaper and the establishment of Tongnip Hyuphoei (독립협회/獨立協會). The primary subject was national enlightenment. During this period, the Tongnip Sinmun was very cooperative with the government. It provided people with explanation of government policies. Articles were moderate, but it started to exert its influence on national consciousness and thoughts.
The second phase was from Jul 4th in 1896 to May 11th in 1898. This is the period from the establishment of Tongnip Hyphoei to the point that Seo transferred the Tongnip Sinmun business to Yoon Chi-ho. During this period, it supported for Tongnip Hyuphoei led projects (i.e., the construction of Tongnip mun, Tongnip gongwon and Tongnip gwan) and focused more on grassroots’ enlightenment. There was a change in the newspaper format. The English edition was separately published and its size enlarged as twice as its original size.
It established branch offices (Jemulpo and Shanghai) and stationed correspondents. In the midst of increasing conflicts between reformists and conservatives within the cabinet, the Tongnip Hyuphoei was gradually suppressed by pro-Russia conservatives. In Aug. 1897, the Russian government dispatched a military instructor and a financial advisor to Korea for the purpose of intervention and exploitation. In response to it, the Tongnip Sinmun started to criticize the government by reporting corrupted officials and unjustifiable Russian intervention. In December that year, the Tongnip Sinmun was faced with discontinuance due to its criticism against pro-Russia conservatives. Ultimately, the government decided to expel Seo from Korea and continued the publication of it under the Yoon Chi-ho.
The third phase began when Yoon ascended to chief editor until the point that that Tongnip Hyuphoei dismantled. (i.e., May to Dec. in 1898) During this period, the Tongnip Sinmun played a role in speaking for Tongnip Hyuphoei and enlightening the people. As of July in 1898, it developed into a daily newspaper.
The fourth phase was the period from the dissolution of Tongnip Hyuphoei to the discontinuance of the newspaper. After the breakup of the institution, Yoon Chi-ho, a chief editor of the paper and the president of Tongnip Hyuphoei, was appointed as a government official and left Seoul. Thus, the changes were inevitable. For the first several months, Appengeller, H.G. assumed the job of a chief editor and Emberly, H. took over it in June, 1899. The newspaper tried to maintain existing principles, however, toned down its criticism and focused more on education and enlightenment of grassroots.
Despite its continuous publication, such aforementioned changes as well as increasing government oppression against the Tongnip Sinmun naturally led it to lose its dignity as a newspaper. The authorities attempted searching its office building and arrested some journalists who covered corrupted officials. They even demanded return of office building in July, 1899 in a bid to purchase the Tongnip Sinmun. Considering it was operated while in debt, this was a serious percussion for the newspaper. In response to it, U.S. minister Allen, arranged for mediation between the government and Seo Jae-pil, a substantial leader behind the scene. As a result, Seo finally agreed to sell the newspaper to government for the price of 4,000 won on December 24th, 1899. The Tongnip Sinmun published its final issue on December 4th in 1899. After the government takeover it was discontinued permanently.