| [preface]
Dear U.S.A Authorities,
In 1871 Cho-Sun, old name of Korea, has been taken away General's flag("SU"-"帥" in Chinese ) which was the symbol of Korean force. Nowadays the museum of the Naval Academy in Annapolis has displayed the snatched General's Flag from Korea. It is said that any similar Genaral's flag is not left in Korea .
We urge the U.S. authorities to return the General's Flag to rebuild new relationship between Korea-United State of America for this 21st century. Sin- mi- yang- yo! The unforgettable battle
(subtitle: Please return General's flag taken
away from Korea 120 years ago and recover the pride of Koreans )
l [Sin- mi- yang- yo means the sexagenary cycle in 1871]
《written by Cha, Moonsung (sochang@chol.com)& Cha Sanghyun 》
1.
9 years have passed since America invaded Guang-sung-bo in Kang-hwa-island
(Kang-hwa island is situated in western Korea very close to seoul)
Ernest Oppert who is well known as the shameless grave robber illegally excavated
Tea-won-kun's father's tomb ( Nam yun-kun's tomb who is grandfather of The
Emperor GoJong ) had published at the same time in England and America in 1880 the
book which was called "The forbidden Land ".  http://www.sochang.net/bbs/data/pic2/image_sub02_03.gif" height="200" align="right" width="200"> By the end of 19th century Cho-sun (previous name of Korea) was known as "the
forbidden land" and "the unknown world" at least to Westrn countries including
America. At that time Asian countries had being invaded by the Western Powers
under the name of a Commercial Treaty. Cho-Sun was also not the exception of
their targets . Right after French attack which is called Byung-in-yang-yo(it means
sexagenary cycle in 1866 ,French said "blockade of Salee river), Korea was attacked by
the Western Powers again.
At last American fleet appeared at Nam-yang-strait where is western Korea In 1871
They demanded a commercial treaty the same as other Asian countries.. Sin-mi-yang-yo (first battle between Korea and America broke out in this year) was
not enough to raise America's domestic concerns although it was said as a title "Our
Little War with
the Heathen" on New York Herald.
The story of Sin-mi-yang-yo was distinctly written down in the report of the US Navy
Commander John Rosers and Talton's diary besides documents of Korea.. We could not forget to have been taken away General's flag(" " in Chinese ) which
was the symbol of Korean force . Nowadays The museum of the Naval Academy in
Annapolis has displayed the snatched General's Flag from Korea. It is said that any
same Genaral's flag is not left in Korea , needless to say the meaning of flag is very
important. We are very kindly request the restitution of Genaral's Flag to rebuild new relationship
between Korea-United State of America for this 21st century. 2.
The prelude of the relationship between Korea and the USA is dated back from burning
of the commercial ship which called "General Sherman" to open trade with America
around Dea-dong river .near Pyung-yang city At that time westerners who were dwelling Shang-hai, Chi-bu ,Chun-jin in China
considered that the King's tomb of Cho-sun dynasty seems to have kept something
surprised like the tomb of Tutankhamun in Egypt, so it was thought to be a plenty of
treasures in it. After failing in the attempt to excavate tomb illegally ,American protested strongly
toward Korean goverment . they conducted investigation twice to demand compensation
for damages against the accident.
Eventually they requested inequal commercial relations of Korea-America by military
power in 1871.
John Roger ,the commander of U.S fleet, became to depart in Nagasaki with 6
battleships including Colorado, with 1230 seamen ,85 pieces of ordnance loaded on the
ship. At June 1st warship Monosaka and Paro which were suitable for passing
narrow Kang-hwa Waterway(which is called "Yum-ha" in Korea) navigates around
kang-hwa Island for 10 days
At 1pm USA force simultaneously began to open fire toward Cho-ji-jin (a kind of
encampment through Kang-Hwa Waterway) . The following day large-scale campaign
was put in
Operation in this position. Korean General "Uh Jea-yun" and 600 soldiers tried to
defend desperately Kwang-sung-bo.( a sort of encampment )
During the battle which continued for 49 hours , 243 of Korean soldiers were burned up
besides 100 corpse floated along the waterway . In tatal 350 soldiers were dead in this
battle. Also Korea forces was considerably damaged in the combat. Nevertheless
American force got in damage no more than SFC Mckee and 3 seamen dead, 5 men
seriously wounded and 5 men slight wounded.
After complete victory , American force hauled down the large yellow flag (it means
Genaral's Flag)
which were fluttering on Kwang-sung-bo flagpole . The US fleet returned with the
other war trophies as well as General's Flag. Three dead seamen were buried in
Jak-yak-island (under Young-jong bridge at incheon int'l airport)
SFC Mckee who was dead under sailing was buried at the National Cemetery in
Kentrukey 3.
This was the first case of between Korea and America. A few years ago Professor
Thomas
Durvernay who was on duty at Dong-kuk Univ. in KyungJu had inquired
Representatives of Michigan about General's Flag. He maintained it must be returned to
Korea right after confirming to be kept in the Annapolis Naval Academy Museum.
Michigan Representatives made an objection for returning any trophies as well as
"General's Flag" to Korea without any exception.. We wonder whether there is any examples for returning cultural assets or not.
France and Netherlands gave back their possessed cultural assets to Laos and Indonesia
after independence.
Protocol for returning cultural assets in France and Algeria were made by expressing
the meaning of the past relations liquidation. Also there is a long-term lease to each
museum as one of easy method. As matter of a fact , we can present more examples:
The Treaty of Cooperation between The United states of America and the United
Mexican providing for the Recovery and Return of stolen Archaeological, Historical and
Cultural properties 1970; it presents the legal basis of returning stolen cultural assets. As case of international treaties, Versailles convention(Article 245) which was concluded
in 1919 prescribes that stolen cultural assets concernig Franco-Prussian War in 1870
should be returned and going back the past until 1718. .
After World War Two , Unesco have clarified "The convention on cultural asset
protection during conflicting by force" . Furthermore according to Unesco Convention in
1954 and Resolution of the U.N. General Assembly, all the nations must accept
ownershop of original possessed country.
In view of examples it's natural that Michigan representatives follow guidelines of
Unesco to return a war trophies in a sence.
We do not demand on such a great cultural assets taken by the U.S. Forces during the
invasion of
Kang-sung-bo in Kang-Hwa Island.
It means just to return General's Flag as a symbol of peace for new relationship
between Korea and America.. Therefore it will give the chance to promote more friendly relations between Korea and
America. In addition, we hope that Korea can present the flag of repleca to Anapolis
museum. No wonder to represent gratitude to the U.S. Army for having possessed it for
quite a long time.
Only on looking at the duplicated General's flag which is hung on the
2nd floor of historic museum in Kang-Hwa island , we used to feel the unforgettable
battle is not finished .
Even though 130 years have gone by, the government and NGO didn't neglect the effort
to recover to the original condition.
As one of good examples, we took back great monument stolen it in 1905 from Japan.
It was attributed by the effort of NGO not government.
I remember that Mr.Wardrop who is the descendent of soldier engaged
Sin-mi-yang-yo battle visited Korea by effort of Prof. Thomas Durvernay.
He joined the sacrificial rite of Korean General "Uh" and stated " I really apologize
things whch was committed by US forces during Sin-mi-yang-yo period as
descendents of the soldier. Now, we urge the U.S. authorities to return the General's Flag which
remained a scar in the unforgettable battle. So we hope this accomplishment is to be
left as the symbol of both countries from generation to generation.
-the end-
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