The Korea Review (1901)
1901–1906 academic magazine
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The Korea Review[1] (Korean: 코리아 리뷰) was a monthly English-language academic magazine published from January 1901 to December 1906 in the Korean Empire for a total of 72 issues. The publication was compiled by Homer Hulbert, published by Trilingual Press, and was a successor publication to The Korean Repository, a similar publication published from 1882 to 1899. The publication is now considered a valuable resource on the history of Korea at this time.[2][3]
History
Homer Hulbert first arrived in Korea in 1886 as a teacher.[2] He worked on publishing The Korean Repository beginning in 1892.[4] In 1899, both that publication and the English-language newspaper The Independent ceased publication, leaving a void of English-language publications about Korea. Hulbert began publishing Korea Review and served as its editor beginning in January 1901.[2]
The publication was aimed at introducing Korea to both the Westerners in Korea and abroad. Each issue had around 40 to 50 pages long. Articles covered a variety of topics, including Korean history, culture, language, politics, law, science, religion, and literature. Hulbert had a regular column in the magazine entitled "The History of Korea" that he published serially beginning in the first issue; he eventually compiled the column into a book.[2]
The magazine had editorials on current events and politics. Its early issues had a more favorable impression of Japan, as they thought the country could be a positive influence in Korea's modernization. However, upon the conclusion of the 1904–1905 Russo-Japanese War, the articles became more critical of Japan's encroachment on Korean sovereignty. Hulbert was a vocal Korean independence activist, and voiced such opinions in the magazine.[2]
The magazine ceased publication without prior notice after its December 1906 issue. This was possibly due to Japan's influence, as Japan had assumed indirect control over Korea.[2]