Paul Georg von Möllendorff: A German Reformer in Korea

Abstract

In 1882, the German linguist and diplomat Paul Georg von Möllendorff (1847–1901) became the first foreigner ever to be employed as an adviser to the Korean government. This chapter aims for a portrayal of the man appointed First Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs by none other than King Gojong himself that is more differentiated than what is usually related of him outside of Korea, making a point of highlighting his merits as a reformer. In German archives one often comes across negative evaluations of Möllendorff. For the most part, this is due to the resentment felt towards him by other foreign diplomats of the time. From a Korean perspective, one might argue, Möllendorff deserves as much credit for his work in Asia as is generally given to Philipp Franz von Siebold, the physician from Würzburg who is held in high regard as an important witness to the history of late Edo Japan.