고종황제의 산둥성 「칭다오 가옥」 매입과 관련한 의문

Abstract

The purchase background, process, and ownership issues related to the Villa Qingdao involving Emperor Gojong were sensitive matters that could have escalated diplomatically and politically, involving not only Korea but also Japan and Germany. Emperor Gojong denied purchasing the Villa Qingdao, clarifying that the property was not acquired as part of Emperor Gojong’s political or diplomatic strategies but was given to Jo Nam seung as compensation. This fact served as evidence that Emperor Gojong did not have a significant interest in the Villa Qingdao. Based on the inquiry and Cho Nam seung’s submission, the Government-General of Chosen also confirmed that the case was not owned by the imperial family during the Korean Empire and closed the case. The reason is that they did not want to expand politically and diplomatically because they were concerned about causing friction with Germany, which did not approve the annexation of Korea and Japan due to the issue of the Villa Qingdao. The decision to purchase the Villa Qingdao was made in 1906 when Ernst Kroebel, the husband of Emma Kroebel, who replaced Son Tak, who went on a vacation in Europe, met with Emperor Gojong. Emperor Gojong’s purchase of Villa Qingdao in Shandong Province was persuasive as an alternative with asylum in mind because Qingdao, a geographically close province, was a German-leased territory trying to maintain a balance of power in East Asia with Japan at odds. However, it is believed that the purchase was not meticulously planned or intended as a preparation for exile, as Ernst Kroebel’s personal greed, including embezzlement of the purchase funds, and the lack of Korean activities in the German-leased territory of Qingdao suggest otherwise. Nevertheless, the proximity of Qingdao to Korea and its status as a German-leased territory made it a strategically valuable location for the pursuit of independence and resistance activities. Follow up studies are required for the lack of discovery of feed and the insufficient research process.