New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-18
A ROYAL EXAMINER.
THE KING OF KOREA AND Ills FUNCTION
IN TIE NATIVE UNIVERSITY
fFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBrSKi

Three years ago this summer The tribune cons
tanned an account Of the opening, in the City oe
Seoul, Korea, of foreign college under tde charge
Of three American college graduates sent out, II
the request Of the Korean Government by the
State Department at Washington At that tiine
everything was in state Of great political un-
certainty. The Korean Government stood in ~
very critical position Recognized virtually as an
independent power through her treaties with
Western powers, she had, nevertheless not yet
performed some Of those sovereign acts which
are recognized rs putting beyond dispute ths
integrity and sovereignty of any power. Every
one felt that something remained 70 nc DONE and
until then all foreign Institutions and among them
the Government College under American ratr0nages
were mere experiments depending upon the actual
position that Korea should occupY among the ;rcaty
powers. But the problem was solved once and
for all when the Korean Government dispatched
10 Washington and 10 the European Courts her
Ministers, who took rank with those OF any other
power From that time people who were inters
esed in the Advancement of Korea in a line with
that of Japan looked upon the Korean star as IN
the ascendant A vigorous foreign policy n-
crease in imports and exports, efficient Gus.
toms service and gradual development of Internal
resources have conspred to make il reasonable
to expect that Korea will take every advantage
It is in regard to only ono of the efforts which
Korea is making toward more enlightened con-
dition that l wish to call attention-the Governs
ment College
IS the three gentlemen began their work in tbs
autumn of 1886 they had before their minds tho
ma gniiiccnt University of Toxic. constant
despair, but a constant incentive-despair OF ever
being able to see Korea honored With
such a magnificent inStiu!tion-and yet an Inc
centive. because when japan opened tho
possibility of such an institution there seemed
rs remote as it did in Korea when she signed
her treaties This school was started on a plaa
remotely resembling that carried out at WcSS
Point certain number of students appointed
by the Government taking up their abode III Vhs
college buildings and supported at public expense.
Here the resemblance ceases, for the strict dsc-
pline of a West Point would be impossible, and
upwise if possible. IN such a country as Korea
The original intention of the Government wns
10 educate young men of the nobility TO occupy
places of responsibility under the Government
and il was decided that seven years would bs
sufficient 10 give them the training in English ana
in the natural and political sciences which -
necessary Without dwelling on the fortunes OF the
school, which have, indeed, been various, because
of the opposition of a strong anti-forelgn party,
/ wish to speak about the peculiar and interesting
form of examination, which has no precedent, 30
far as am aware. in the world The students
all being from families OF position, with which the
King is more or less familiar, His Majesty cons
ceiyed the idea of examining the students hlh-
self and therefore at the end of each college year
an examination is held at the palace not only la
the presence of the King, but by him III person.
The question Immediately arises, how can be,
knowing not a word of English examine class
of students who able, many OF them, 10 speaS
Huenty in that tongue. The three high Korean
officials who are the regents of the college ms
vented an ingenious method by which the Difficult "
was overcome. Four pOnderous quarto volumes
were made, in two of which were written largo
number of English sentences, beginning at tha
simplest and terminating at the most involved
and difficult, introducing, perhaps 1000 worda
in ALL But instead OF being written in English
it is all written with Korean characters phonetl'
cally The Korean alphabet is u very perfect
one. and one with which almost any shade Of Sound
can be represented and therefore almost the eNacu
English sounds can be reproduced. Under eacn
sentence IS written It's meaning III Chinese chaiac-
ters which are universally used by the hl5her
classes IN TINS country. 49,. I'll,
Being summoned into the Royal presence We
entered the huge double gate OF the inner III
closure or court and ascending flight oil Stone
found ourselves III lFOub VI a loibS UPS
room, as if side OF the house had Deeh biNet
down. At the back oil TINS lllS MaI'S'y Nh
seated behind a small foreign table covered WIN
"A handsomely embroidered Cantonese spread Oh
enc side of the room was seated the Crown Irlncd
on a slightly raised dals The courtlers were
ranged along the sides OF the foOm wearing 'ia
peculiar palace robes which some OF your readif3
have doubtless seen upon the members Vi ohe
Corean Legation at Washington After salutlhs
the King and Prince, and after rev CONS
plimcntarv remarks, we took our places at tho
rght OF His Majesty, ana prepared TO Naicl
the examination. One OF the students Deih3
called up by the Court Marshal, entered the ROOM
and fell on his knees before the King. sort OF
vase containing many long strips OF hampoo WAY
then pushed toward him. from which he dIeM
one and whatever number was written on u,
from that page must he be examined men, aIos
the places mad been found for the Ming anu
Prince and their books placed before lhen =
hook containing the real English WIS placed De,
fore the student still on his knees and he would
read what was written and explain what was
meant by il.
His Majesty kept account OF every ms ms
take in pronunciation or interpratati9n,
and knew just how TO- grade Una ina
man. In every case he appealed to us Tor ous
judgment as TO the grade which the man deserved
and afterward he ordered as he thought BEST
There were four grades: Tong which meant
perfect yak which meant second; chau,7
third and pou" failure. When the KING ah<
nounccd what the man was to receive; one OF tha
courtiers picked UP block OF woGd on wnl,u
was written the Chinese character for that grada
and placing il on salver elevated IT before the
loud voice Then the student retired and another
was called up For three days the eXaminatiou
went on. one day being occupied in examining
their ability to write English at our dictation.
At the end His Majesty took cognzance OF thoSs
men who had passed the best examination, an!
prizes were given in the shape OF what is called
here rank" which really means some plac1
under the Government There are score ot
different ranks. and the rising from one 70 ths
other OF these forms the highest ambition OF tia
Korean. There is no hercditary nobility al-
though il seldom happens that men in me i0"hss
grades of society rise 10 prominence ~ VIII pa
seen at once that these annual examination, pn
His Majesty are Of great value q the school ~
forming constant and powerful incentive q
hard work on tn. one hand, and as keeplng IN
Majesty informed OF the progress OF the lnsuVu>
ton and interested in its growth.