Allen, the inflection point of conflict and grudge against Lee Yong-ik

Abstract

Allen and Lee Yong-ik came into conflict with each other for three issues and faced inflection point that led to their relationship of grudge. The first conflicting issue was related to the right to operate Eunsan gold mine. As a mining official in charge of gold mine and a secretary of land surveying office in charge of government budget, Lee Yong-ik was very concerned in securing government finance and necessary fund for imperial family. Allen intimidated Gojong and Lee Yong-ik that Korea could be endangered unless they accept US proposal with regard to Eunsan gold mines; however, the Eunsan gold mining rights was allowed to the United Kingdom. Since then, Allen began to blame Lee Yong-ik as ‘a tricky man with a reserved nature’. The second issue was the dispute that occurred around the management leadership of Hansung Electric Company. As Hansung Electric Company encountered operational crisis, Collbran and his colleagues dominated management rights of the Company with the help from Allen. When the Korean Empire could not repay its debt or the Company was not smoothly operated in favor of US businessmen, Allen oppressed the Korean Empire with US power. Lee Yong-ik tried to control their management rights even by expanding streetcar riding refusal movement. with this issue, Allen’s grudge and hatred against Lee Yong-ik ran to an extreme. The last inflection point of conflict was issues around opening of Uiju and Yongampo. When Russia took southward policy by starting felling operation along the Amnok river, Japan, in order to interrupt it, requested Korean government to open Yongampo. Taking advantage of this, US tried to open Uiju and Yongampo as special zones for economic trade. Lee Yong-ik opposed to opening ports in Uiju and Yongampo saying that it would jeopardize Korea’s safety. Allen assumed that the disallowance of opening ports in Uiju and Yongampo made Japan develop power and led to the conclusion of Eulsa Treaty. Furthermore, Allen assumed that Korea was put under the control of Japan because the figure like Lee Yong-ik controlled the emperor. As a US minister in Korea, Allen strengthened his stature by representing US interest in the front line and providing privilege to US businessmen. It was also connected with his personal gain. Eventually, Allen extremely hated and blamed Lee Yong-ik because he obstructed Allen’s activity and path.