Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-18
Korean Minister'S Failure to Attend
Obsequies Of Pom Kwang Lob.
WILL PROBABLY DlSPLEASE TEE KING
Criticism of Minister Ye Pom Chin
by Local Coreans.
CHARGE OF DISCOURTES Y

Pom kwang Lob was an Intentional
slight on the part Of Minister Ye Pom Chin
What will be done with Minister Chin on
account of his diplomatic sin of omission is
| stu problematical. 1t is claimed by some
that the minister is in immediate danger of
| losing his mission on account of his trans
gressfon. Others claim that he has such a
| powerful influence with the king and with
the people of his country that he can do
| almost what he chooses and still not be
| held responsible.
1t was stated that Ye Pom Chin was such
an influential man in Corea that II was
with reluctance the king allowed him, at
MS own solicitation, to come as minister
mere, Tor the express purpose of studying
Inc anairs of the United States, In every
detail so that he could apply his knowi-
edge to the betterment of Corean matters
On the other hand, people who should
know the ms and outs of Corean diplomatic
affairs, say that 1t has been a great mis-
take from the first to displace such a
man as Pom kwang Lob for Ye Pom Chin
Lob was of highly aristocratic family
In his own country, which has for GEN.
turtles almost been closely connected with
the ruling powers. The motto of the Lob
| family translated into English is "A Lob
| is always loyal
Opinion Of nm Acquaintance.
gentleman who had known Pom
kwang Lob almost ever since ne has been
| in this country and knows the present
minister well said to The Star reporter:
There was no feeling between the dead
| man and the present minister SO far as
Pom Kwang Lob was concerned. 1t was
all on the other side.
Chin recognized the fact that Lob was
Iar above him, and that angered him in
tenseay. One of the chief characteristics
OF the minister is his immense self-con-
ceit. He is bully, besides and l have
been told by the Coreans that he was ore
OF the three worst men in his COUNTRY
They say that he was a farrier and by
toadying and lot Of shrewd work on his
part 1ngratiated himself into the good
favors of the queen, who was killed. He
was accustomed to amuse her by telling
her funny stories
The real manner, however. in which he
s'hheu such powerful influence with the
royal family was by means of q Diplomatic
action. OF rather claim, on his part. Dur
ing an instruction i'm Corea the king and
queen were forced to seek shelter in the
russian legation. Ye Pom Chin took upon
himself all the credit of having ACCOMPLISH
ed their escape. and still further increased
MS influence with the king.
Kings Characteristic.
"One of the other characteristics of the
minister is his extreme RIGHTEOUSNESS
Why, his own papers make fun of him.
in reference to this. One Of them remarked
some time ago, 'Ye Pom Chin smoked
Wnole cigarette today
The person who wrote that evidently
knew him well. for 1 have seen him take
a cigarette, cut it in half and smoke one
of the halves. / have seen him take a
match to light the gas jets in a chande-
her and burn his fingers in his anxiety 20
hight all the jets with the one match, in
stead OF taking another. The Coreans here
despisc him. and are not slow in concealine
their contempt for him and his misery
plebeian ways.
1T was only the coming into power of
a new faction that sent We Pom Chin TO
this country. AS is known, Lob belonged
to the progressive party of his country and
the dearest dream which he cherished was
10 see corea in lire with the civilized ma
tions of the world. Ye Pom Chin is for
himself alone. He is entirely selfish and
does lot care a snap what becomes of
others OR what trouble arises so long as he
himself can profit or can retain his place
fe Pom Chin is of the conservative party,
which Is in power at present.
lie minister, ii Is said by the Coreans
Is in deadly fear of assassination, on ac-
count or the beheading of former prime
minister and a minister of agriculture He
Is said to have been the prime mover in
the conspiracy which ended in their lives
and it is the friends of the dead men who
ne Is afraid viii revenge them
The Secretnry's Diplomacy.
The private secretary of Pom Kwang
Lob was seen at the residence of the dead
AifSii eiAA' Aiioi iih6, anu dohtu IL iile real
reason of 10 member of the legation at
| tending the funeral was that the minister
wished to slight the memory of the de-
ceased. Mr.. PAX thought a moment as if
considering whether or not he should al
low his resentment to bubble over Then
his diplomatic instincts got the better of
this idea, ard he said, slowly and care
fully:
The minister was sick, or said he was
i'll, ard that was sufficient to keep him
away"
WAS it not strange" the reporter aues-
toned, watching him closely, that the
minister and entire legation should be-
come i'll SO suddenly and without apparent
in such an extraordinary manner, and
then recover in such a remarkably short
interval of time"
PAX had to smile in spite of himself. and
that the minister's stay here would not
be very lengthy, on account of the insult
to Loh'S ashes, after 1t shall be brought
to the attention of the king, his eyes fairly
sparzled and he half murmured an assent
Il cannot tell how that will be-" he
said.
Then he added automatically again:
THE minister gave an excuse and we
must accept it.
Other Considerations.
1t is not only the insult to the memory
of the departed Corean nobleman which
mas aroused ground OF complaint IN the
breasts of the Coreans, and which may or
may not. as time will prove. cause the
recall of Minister Ye Pom Chin. Princes
Ye Wha and Min were the greatest friends
of Mr.. Lob. had been his guests and were
with hin. when he died.
II is understood they are highly indig-
nant over the matter. and that Ye Wha
viii present the facts to the king, his
father. and endeavor to have WESTMINSTER
punished for his lack of common cour-
tesy. IL nothing else, in refusing to be
present at the last sad rites over q fellow
countryman, who was a faithful subject,
and at the time of his demise entertaining
q son of the king himself. Prince Min is
the nephew Of the Queen of Corea.
Another cause for complaint, and a most
grave one, 1t Is considered. is that not only
did Ye Pom Chin refuse to show respect to
the memory Of Pom Kwang Lob, but dis
charged a number of the legation because
the latter would have assisted In Going him
honor. This member was Mr.. Foster Jen-
nings. who, as It was thought eminently
fit and proper, tried to secure a Corean
flag from the legation, after it had been
refused by the minister. The nag was to
drape the casket Of the dead statesman.
Mr.. Jennings kindly offered to obtain the
nag. and was promptly discharged by the
u,inlxfar