Yuni Chi’i-ho (1864–1945)
- 1865 – born illegitimate son of father with military career
- 1881
- sent to Japan by government on study mission
- Remained in Japan and studied at Dōshisha University with Nakamura Masanao
- 1883
- recalled to Korea and serves as interpreted for US Minister Foote
- In Seoul, Yun grows close to King Kojong, warns of Chinese influence
- Favors independent treaties with European countries and Meiji style reforms
- Favored adoption of hangul writing system
- 1884
- Leaves Korea because he is suspect (falsely) of participation in 1884 failed Japanese coup.
- Studies at Methodist college in Shanghai, then Vanderbilt, then Emory
- Adopts Social Darwinism, see Korea as needed radical transformation
- 1895
- stops in Japan en route back to Seoul. Impressed by accomplishments, but dismayed by Japanese territorial designs on Korea
- Helps found “Independence Club” and newspaper The Independent
- Rejects direct Japanese support
- 1898
- Wins king’s approval for national assembly, but then Kojong fears that it will lead to republic, rejects reforms, orders arrests and suppression of Independence Club
- Yun goes into internal exile.
- 1904
- “I see no hope of getting rid of these maggots that [maintain] the regime of corruption and oppress [the people]”
- 1906
- Protests Japanese annexation or Korea, active in Korean “self-strengthening”
- 1910 - Japan annexes Korea as colony
- 1911 - Japanese colonial government arrest Yun on conspiracy charge of planning assassination of Governor General
- 1915 - Despite long prison sentence, Yun is pardoned
