The Voluntary Agency Network of Korea (VANK) has launched a global campaign to build a statue of Dr. Homer B. Hulbert, a foreign independence activist, in his hometown in the United States. The campaign is being initiated to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. alliance and the 160th anniversary of Hulbert’s birth.
In February 2023, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs of Korea announced plans to erect a statue in honor of Ernest Thomas Bethell, a foreign independence activist who founded the Daehan Maeil Sinbo (predecessor of the Seoul Shinmun) and contributed to Korea’s independence movement. The statue will be built in Bethell’s hometown of Bristol, UK, as part of the celebrations marking the 140th anniversary of Korea-UK diplomatic relations.
According to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, the statue of Bethell is being established to honor his dedication to Korea’s independence and to celebrate the 140th anniversary of Korea-UK relations and the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice in 2023. The project is expected to be completed by the second half of 2024, with the statue being installed in Bristol Square.
This marks the second time the Korean government has led the establishment of a statue honoring a foreign activist who contributed to Korea’s independence. In 2014, a statue of Frank William Schofield, who played a significant role in informing the international community about the Korean independence movement, was erected in Toronto, Canada.
VANK believes that, just as the Korean government has erected statues of Frank William Schofield in Canada and Ernest Thomas Bethell in the UK, it is essential to build a statue of Dr. Homer Hulbert in the United States to further solidify the bond between Korea and the U.S.
Dr. Homer B. Hulbert (1863–1949) was a key figure in the fight to preserve Korea’s sovereignty during the late Joseon Dynasty and actively supported Korea’s independence during the Japanese occupation. He authored 20 books and 304 articles on Korean history, culture, and arts, making significant contributions to global awareness of Korea. Hulbert dedicated 38 years of his life to restoring Korea’s sovereignty and rectifying the distorted history of Korea perpetuated by Japanese imperialism.
Hulbert is also remembered for his advocacy for the Korean language and culture. He wrote about the excellence of Hangul in The New York Tribune, authored the Hangul textbook Sam-in Pilji, and helped establish the Dongnip Sinmun (The Independent), the first English-language newspaper in Korea. He fiercely contested distorted portrayals of Korea in works like The Hermit Nation by Griffith and Korea: The Land of the Morning Calm by Percival Lowell.
In 1907, Hulbert, along with Korean diplomats Lee Jung, Lee Wi-jong, and others, participated as a special envoy at the Hague Peace Conference, where they presented Korea’s case to the international community, denouncing Japan’s invasion of Korea.
Hulbert’s final wish was to be buried in Korea, not Westminster Abbey, and he is laid to rest at the Yanghwajin Foreigners’ Cemetery in Seoul, as per his request.
2023 marks both the 160th anniversary of Dr. Homer Hulbert’s birth and the 70th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. alliance. Erecting a statue of Hulbert on this significant occasion would greatly contribute to strengthening the friendly relations between Korea and the United States.
In this context, VANK has launched a global campaign to build a statue of Dr. Hulbert in the U.S. To promote this initiative, VANK has created digital posters in both Korean and English, which are being widely shared on social media.
The posters feature the message: “Let’s erect a statue of Dr. Homer B. Hulbert in the U.S. to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. alliance and the 160th anniversary of Dr. Hulbert’s birth, celebrating his dedication to Korea’s independence and his role in strengthening Korea-U.S. relations!”
Additionally, VANK will engage the Governor of Vermont, Dr. Hulbert’s hometown, as well as U.S. citizens, to raise awareness of Hulbert’s significant contributions to the friendship and cooperation between Korea and the U.S. through global campaigns and international petitions.
Furthermore, VANK has submitted a policy petition through Woollim (woollimkorea.net) to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, urging the erection of a statue of Dr. Hulbert in Vermont, in line with the 70th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. alliance.