Den Haag (novel)

덴하흐(Den Haag)
Author(s)	Ho Soo Kim
Language	Korean
Genre(s)	crime, mystery historical fiction
Publisher	Philmac
Publication date	1 December 2008
Media type	Print
Pages	292
ISBN	978-89-91071-63-6
OCLC Number	428734708

Den Haag (Korean: 덴하흐) is a 2008 mystery-detective historical fiction novel written by South Korean author Ho Soo Kim and published by Philmac in South Korea.

It follows the Pope's envoy, Hugo(fictitious character), as he investigates a murder in Seoul in 2007 and discovers a terror plot of Japan's militaristic group. At the same time, the novel keeps track of the Korean Emperor's three secret delegates who are sent to Netherlands Peace Conference in 1907.

Plot summary

Den Haag (Korean: 덴하흐) is the Faction(fact+fiction) which is based on the historical fact of the Korean Empire's credential three secret delegates at the Second Peace Conference at The Hague in 1907. This story mingles three different incidents crossing time and space.

In 1907, at The Hague, Yi Jun, one of the three delegates died a mysterious death. In 2007, at Seoul, a 10 year old child happened to die from an ill-defined brain disease. These two stories link together through the letter to Vatican sent by a veiled priest called 'Q(fictitious character)' and his activities.

This novel call our of today to account what is the historical meaning of Japan-Korea Forced Annexation a hundred years ago: Who am I, what left behind 'a time of Japanese forced occupation' to me of the present time, and in confronting such historical problems, how to eliminate the legacy of Japan’s colonial rule of Korea which have been restricting liberty and pride of Korean even now.

Historical background

Crisis of the Korean Empire

• the assassination of Empress Myeongseong of Korea

A modern portrait of Empress Myeongseong (明成皇后眞影 명성황후진영)

In early morning of October 8, 1895, sword-bearing assassins allegedly under orders from Miura Goro(In 1895, Miura was appointed Japan’s resident minister extraordinary and plenipotentiary in Korea) entered Gyeongbok Palace(a palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea). Upon entering the Queen's Quarters (옥호루, "Okhoru, Geonchung Palace"), the assassins "killed three court [women] suspected of being Empress Myeongseong. When they confirmed that one of them was the Empress, they burned the corpse in the pine forest in front of the Okhulu complex of the immense palace, and then dispersed the ashes." After the assassination of Empress Myeongseong Korea effectively became a protectorate of Japan on 25 July 1905.

• The Korean Empire's credential three secret delegates

three secret delegates: From the left, Yi Jun, Yi Sang-seol and Vladimir Sergeevich Li(Korean. Li Wi-jong)

The 1905 Protectorate Treaty having been promulgated without Emperor Gojong's required seal and had thus lost the right to conduct diplomatic exchanges with other countries. To protest Japan’s actions, Emperor Gojong of Korea sent three secret delegates, Yi Jun (이준), Yi Sang-Seol (이상설) and Yi Wi-Jong (이위종) to the Second Peace Conference at The Hague, Netherlands on 18 July 1907. However, the Great powers didn't allow the delegates to take part in the conference, so the delegates were unable to gain entry into the convention hall. And Yi Jun, one of the three delegates died suddenly on 17 July 1907. After all, Korea was no longer viewed as an independent nation by the great powers, and Japan was seen as representing her on the international stage. Although the Korean delegates were blocked by the Japanese delegates, they did not give up, and later held interviews with newspapers.

Vladimir Sergeevich Li, Li Wi-Jong warned forebodingly of Japanese ambitions in Asia:

"The United States does not realize what Japan's policy in the Far East is and what it portends for the American people. The Japanese adopted a policy that in the end will give her complete control over commerce and industry in the Far East. Japan is bitter against the United States and against Great Britain. If the United States does not watch Japan closely she will force the Americans and the English out of the Far East."

See also

Novels portal

• Philmac