Welcome to The Hulbert Memorial Society!

Firstly, thank you so much for visiting website of The Hulbert Memorial Society, a commemorating body for Dr. Homer Bezaleel Hulbert(1863~1949), hidden hero of Korea and pride of America., and also the man of integrity, justice, and humanity.

Homer Hulbert, born in New Haven in Vermont, America in 1863, landed in Korea on July 5th in 1886 to be a teacher of Royal College, the first state-run modern school in western style in Korea. He thereafter lived in Korea about 20 years as educator, advocate of Hangeul(Korean alphabet), linguist, journalist, historian, pioneer of the Korean studies, missionary, special envoy of the Emperor, and independence activist against Japan until 1907. Especially he emphasized the importance of education, saying “education is the only answer for the civilization of Korea”. He was twice special envoy of the Korean Emperor in 1905(to Theodore Roosevelt) and in 1907(for Peace Conference held in The Hague, Netherland). After serving as the special envoy for The Hague Peace Conference, he was expelled by Japan and settled in Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.A.. He even in the U.S. continued his work for Korea’s independence for 38 years until 1945 when Korea was liberated.

Dr. Hulbert was invited as a state guest by President of Korea in 1949 to the liberation ceremony on Aug. 15th. He arrived in Korea on July 29th at Incheon, however, passed away on Aug. 5th. He was buried alongside Han river in Seoul as he dreamt of “I would rather be buried in Korea than in Westminster Abbey.” He was posthumously honored by Korean government for the Order for Country Foundation in 1950. And, at the proposal by The Hulbert Memorial Society, Korean government honored him with the Golden Order for Cultural Merits in 2014.

What is Dr. Hulbert to us living today? The Hulbert Memorial Society trusts with confidence that Hulbert’s life is a role model for not only Koreans but also youths over the world. Particularly his valued life based on justice, international comity, humanity, and right patriotism must be memorized by all the people across the globe. Accordingly, I believe that succeeding in Dr. Hulbert’s philosophy and accomplishments must contribute to the world for coexistence in peaceful and humane international order. Pls go to ‘The Hulbert Memorial Society’ for more information on what the Society is doing, and also visit Korean version for historic photos and articles relating to Dr. Hulbert.

Thanks again,

Nov. 2020, upon renewing the website,

Kim DongJin(DJ), Chairman, The Hulbert Memorial Society