Old Korean Legation Museum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Old Korean Legation Museum
Old Korean Legation Museum in 2022
General information
Architectural style	Victorian
Location	15 Logan Circle NW (1500 13th Street NW) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Coordinates	38°54′37.3″N 77°1′47.4″W / 38.910361°N 77.029833°W / 38.910361; -77.029833
Completed	1877
Design and construction
Architect	Thomas M. Plowman
Designations
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
Designated:	June 30, 1972
Part of:	Logan Circle Historic District
Reference #:	72001426
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
Designated:	November 9, 1994
Part of:	Greater Fourteenth Street Historic District
Reference #:	94000992

The Old Korean Legation Museum is a special historic house museum in Washington, D.C.. It's located at 15 Logan Circle NW. This building has a very important history for Korea.

It was built in 1877 as a home for a military officer named Seth Ledyard Phelps. But from 1889 to 1905, it became the official office and home for Korean diplomats in the U.S. This office was called a "legation." It represented the Joseon kingdom and later the Korean Empire. In 1905, Japan took control of Korea's government, and the legation had to close.

The building was sold in 1910 for a very small amount of money. Over the years, it was used for different things. It was a recreation center for African Americans, a meeting hall for a trade union, and even a private home.

For many Koreans, this building was a sad reminder of when Japan took over their country. After many years, the property was finally sold back to the South Korean government in 2012. It was bought by the Cultural Heritage Administration and the National Trust for the Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Korea. After a big renovation, the Old Korean Legation Museum opened in 2018. This beautiful Victorian style museum has a library, a banquet hall, and a small garden. It is an important part of the Logan Circle Historic District.

The Building's Story

Its First Owner

In 1877, a man named Seth Ledyard Phelps got permission to build a large home. It was at 15 Iowa Circle, which is now part of the Logan Circle area in Washington, D.C.. The house was designed by Thomas M. Plowman and built by Joseph Williams. It cost $5,500, which was a lot of money back then!

The house was made of brick and had a tin roof. It also had fancy railings and a metal porch. Seth Phelps was a military officer who fought in the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War. He also worked for the city and was a diplomat to Peru. He was one of the first people to build a big house in this neighborhood. After he passed away in 1885, his wife and daughter continued to live there for a few years.

Korea's First Legation in the West

In 1888, Park Chung Yang became the first Korean minister (a high-ranking diplomat) to the U.S. Korea's first legation opened that year on O Street NW. At that time, China had a lot of influence over Korea. China tried to stop Korea from having diplomatic offices in Western countries. But the United States disagreed with this. So, Korea was allowed to open its only legation in the Western world.

China still tried to interfere. They told Korean officials not to meet other diplomats. But the Koreans ignored this. In 1889, the Joseon kingdom's legation moved to 15 Iowa Circle. In 1891, the Korean government bought the building for $25,000. King Gojong spent this large sum to strengthen ties with the U.S.

In 1898, a fire broke out on the third floor of the legation. It destroyed furniture and books. Neighbors helped carry important documents to safety. Luckily, the minister and his family were unharmed.

When Japan Took Control

The Empire of Japan took control of the Korean Empire after the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905. This meant Korea lost its power to make its own diplomatic decisions. The building on Logan Circle was no longer a legation. In 1906, the Korean minister made a farewell visit to the U.S. State Department. From then on, the U.S. handled Korean diplomatic matters through the Japanese legation.

The Korean property and records were given to the Japanese. In 1910, after Japan officially annexed Korea, the Japanese government bought the building. The contract said Japan paid only $5 to Korea's emperor for the property. Then, Japan quickly resold it to an American for just $10. This was seen as a huge insult to Koreans.

The Building's Journey Back to Korea

For many decades, the building was a private home. It was also a recreation center for African Americans in the 1940s and a union hall for Teamsters. After Korea became free following World War II, Koreans in the U.S. and the Korean government wanted to buy the house back.

Timothy and Lauretta Jenkins bought the home in 1977. They said Koreans often visited, asking to buy the house. The Jenkins knew the building had history, but they didn't fully understand its importance until the 1980s. A former Korean Army general, who was the grandson of the first minister, visited. The Jenkins gave him a tour. Lauretta said, "he walked around so reverentially that it struck a note with us."

The couple kept getting offers but didn't want to sell. They worried the building might not be preserved. In 2008, officials from the South Korean embassy started talking with the Jenkins. The Jenkins originally wanted $6 million. The South Korean government set aside money to buy the house. In 2012, the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) worked to buy the property. The final selling price was $3.5 million.

For many South Koreans, getting the property back was a big victory. Kim Jong-gyu, chairman of a civic group, said, "This is not just a purchase of a building, but a restoration of our national pride." Kim Chan from CHA added, "This Korean Empire legation building miraculously survived. For us, this is a very meaningful and historic day."

The Museum Today

After buying the building, South Korean officials announced it would become a cultural center. They wanted it to teach Americans about Korean heritage and teach Koreans a history lesson. In 2013, the building was included in Logan Circle's heritage trail. A sign outside tells the legation's history.

From 2015 to 2018, the building was carefully restored to look like it did in the late 1800s. The outside kept its original Victorian style. The inside mixes these old details with Korean decorations. Each room was named as it was from 1889 to 1905. Old furniture was bought, and the wallpaper and carpets were chosen to match the time period. The small parking lot next to the building was turned into a garden with flower walls and a granite Eternal Youth Gate (bulomun in Korean). The museum now has a library, a photo exhibit, the minister's bedroom, offices, and a banquet area.

On May 22, 2018, the South Korean flag was raised above the building. The Old Korean Legation Museum officially opened. The opening ceremony happened when President Moon Jae-in visited Washington, D.C. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and admission is free.

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the U.S. military entering the Korean War, a banner was displayed outside the museum. It had messages of peace and thanks to the U.S.A. During a visit to Washington, D.C., Korean First Lady Kim Keon-hee visited the museum. She met Otto Warmbier's mother and a North Korean defector.

See also

• List of museums in Washington, D.C.
• Koreans in Washington, D.C.
• South Korea–United States relations