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Japanese authorities and the pro-Japanese faction forcibly deposed Emperor Gojong, holding him accountable for sending secret emissaries to the Hague Peace Conference. Emperor Sunjong, the son of Emperor Gojong, ascended to the throne and declared the new era name “Yunghui.” This medal was created to commemorate the enthronement of Emperor Sunjong, and was intended to publicize Sunjong’s rise to the throne at home and abroad. At that time, Emperor Gojong kept protesting his forced abdication, and there were some rising voices domestically and abroad against Japan’s unfair treatment of the emperor. For this reason, the Japanese authorities attempted to officially recognize Sunjong as the emperor of the Korean Empire by producing and distributing various enthronement commemorative medals and souvenirs. That was planned by the pro-Japanese government in Korea and the Japanese Residency-General in Korea.
The front of this medal celebrating the enthronement of Emperor Sunjong shows a helmet superimposed on a plum blossom. The flower petals feature characters that read “Enthronement Commemorative Medal.” There are words on the back that can be translated as “Commemorative Medal for the Enthronement Ceremony of His Majesty the Emperor of the Korean Empire, August 27, 1st Year (Yunghui Era).” Gold, silver and bronze medals were produced to celebrate the enthronement.
The certificate for the commemorative medal was also issued in celebration of the enthronement of Emperor Sunjong, and was awarded to Lee Yong-seong, an official with the Privy Council. According to his career profile by the Korean Empire, Lee Yong-seong was a son of Lee Gyeong-ji, who served as a senior-third-rank official in the Office of Royal Relatives, and belonged to the Ansan Lee clan. Born in 1861, Lee entered the Judicial Training School on April 16, 1895, and started his government service as an officer in the Department of Justice the following year on March 7, 1896, after graduating from the school. He served in law-related positions in the Korean Empire and was appointed to an additional position with the Privy Council several days before Emperor Sunjong’s enthronement. He resigned from the post with the Privy Council before long. The certificate shows the words “Edict Received,” and there is a seal in the center, with a plum blossom design at the top center.
This commemorative medal for the enthronement of Emperor Sunjong is a material indicating the forced abdication of Emperor Gojong by the Japanese. It shows the political situation faced by the Korean Empire. Also, it offers a glimpse of the medal-making technology and related ceremonial procedures of that time. |
