Pak Yung-hio

  (Redirected from Park Yeong-hyo)

Pak Yung-hio (1861 – 21 September 1939) was a Korean politician of the Joseon Dynasty period, enlightenment activist, diplomat and pro-Japanese collaborator. Park was one of the organizers of the Gapsin coup of 1884, in which progressive political elements attempted to overthrow the conservative Korean government. His courtesy name was Chungo, Hyeonhyeongeosa, and he later held the title of Count of Geumryung. Park was the son-in-law of King Cheoljong, the 25th king of the Joseon Dynasty.

Pak Yung-hio
A monochrome photograph of a bearded Korean man in a suit
Suwon, Joseon
(now Suwon, South Korea)
Died21 September 1939(1939-09-21) (aged 78)
Keijo, Japanese Korea
(now Seoul, South Korea)
Pak Yung-hio
Revised RomanizationBak Yeonghyo
McCune–ReischauerPak Yŏnghyo
Pen name
춘고 or 현현거사
Revised RomanizationChungo or Hyeonhyeon-geosa
McCune–ReischauerCh'un'go or Hyǒnhyǒn-kǒsa
Courtesy name
Revised RomanizationJasun
Japanese name:
Yamasaki Eiharu

Early life and educationEdit

Park was born in Suwon, south of Seoul. He was the third son of Park Won-yang (박원양, 1804-1880), and his mother was Lady Yi (1817-1884) of the Jeonwi Yi clan; Park also had a distant connection with the royal family by birth: his 7-great-grandfather was Park Se-gyo (朴世橋/박세교, 1611-1663), the son of King Seonjo's 5th daughter, Princess Jinan (정안옹주, 1590-1660). In 1872, Park was chosen to be the spouse of Princess Yeonghye (영혜옹주; 永惠翁主), the only living daughter of King Cheoljong, the 25th king of the Joseon Dynasty. However, the princess passed away merely three months later after their marriage, and the couple had no children; to retain his royal status, Park never remarried and all his children were born by his concubines[1][2].

Later, together with Kim Ok-gyun, Park was a strong supporter of the Dongnipdang, or “Enlightenment Party”, which sought to reform the Korean government, economy, and military by incorporating Western technology and methodology, so that Korea would become stable enough in time to withstand increasing foreign encroachment. He accompanied Kim on his visit to Tokyo, meeting with various influential Japanese politicians, including Fukuzawa Yukichi.

Personal Life

After completing his studies at The University of Edinburgh and from his marriage, he has 3 children; Park Jin-seo, Park Il-seo, Park Myo-ok.

5 grandchildren; Park Ju-eun, Park Yeong-ho, Park Da-bin, Park Seung-joo, Park Seong-ho.

8 great-grandchildren; Park Chan-hee, Park Jun-ho, Park Kang-bae, Ryu Chae-bin, Park Sol, Park Kye-na, Ryu Yeon-bin, Park Yu-no.


Park is credited with creating the first Korean national flag, in 1882.[3]

Gapsin CoupEdit

Park was one of the leaders of the 1884 Gapsin Coup that attempted to overthrow the Korean government and institute Western-style reforms. The coup attempt lasted only three days before its suppression by Chinese troops. Park was forced to flee to exile in Japan, where he initially stayed with Fukuzawa Yukichi, before moving on to Kobe.

Subsequent careerEdit

Park served briefly as Interior Minister in 1895, playing an important role in opening up Korea. However, following the Gabo Reform and the assassination of Queen Min, Park fled to exile in Japan, where he remained until 1907. On his return, he accepted the post of Royal Household Minister under Ye Wanyong.

Following the Japan-Korea Treaty of 1910, in which Korea was annexed to the Empire of Japan, Park was awarded with the kazoku title of marquess (koshaku) in the Japanese peerage, and a seat in the House of Peers in the Diet of Japan. He served as Director of the Bank of Chosen in 1918, Chairman of the Korean Economic Association in 1919, first president of The Dong-a Ilbo newspaper in 1920, president of the Kyungbang Corporation, chairman of the Korea Industrialization Bank in 1921, and advisor to the Government-General of Korea’s Central Institute. In 1935, he was listed[by whom?] as one of the 353 most prominent Koreans.


See alsoEdit


  1. ^ "반남박씨세보 潘南朴氏世譜, 10권". FamilySearch. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  2. ^ "《반남박씨세보 5권》" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-01-16. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  3. ^ Bak Yeonghyo:Korean historical person information (in Korean)

External linksEdit