Noisy, staggering start to 1891 New Year in Jemulpo
Posted : 2021-01-02 09:50
Updated : 2021-01-03 09:41
The streets of Jemulpo decorated for a holiday in the early 20th century. Courtesy of Diane Nars Collection
By Robert Neff
At the end of December 1890, 25-year-old Arnold Henry Savage Landor ― an English painter and writer ― arrived in Jemulpo (modern Incheon) to get a feel for the Land of the Morning Calm.
He would soon discover the kingdom ― especially at this time ― was anything but calm and quiet.
There were three European hotels in Jemulpo that catered to foreigners ― one was owned by an Austrian and was quite popular with sailors, another was owned by a Chinese man and the third, which had recently been rebuilt, had a Japanese proprietor.