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The Circulation and Spread of Global Geographical Knowledge in Enlightenment-Era Korea - From Hanseongsunbo to Saminpilji

  • Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University
  • 2025, 82(4), pp.37~76
  • DOI : 10.17326/jhsnu.82.4.202511.37
  • Publisher : Institute of Humanities, Seoul National University
  • Research Area : Humanities > Other Humanities
  • Received : October 10, 2025
  • Accepted : November 11, 2025
  • Published : November 30, 2025

HAN BO RAM 1

1대전대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This study comparatively analyzes Hanseongsunbo (漢城旬報), a newspaper published by the Joseon government in the 1880s, and Saminpilji (士民必 知), a textbook compiled by the American missionary Homer B. Hulbert in the 1890s, to examine the circulation of modern world geographical information during Joseon’s Port-Opening Period. These two works are key sources that reveal the content, level, and developmental trajectory of the world geographical information that the Joseon government sought to establish from the 1880s to the 1890s. The analysis reveals that both sources share a fundamental framework of modern geographical knowledge, including the spherical shape of the Earth, heliocentrism, and the concept of five continents. However, they exhibit distinct differences in the specifics of their delivery. Hanseongsunbo is characterized by an argumentative narrative style that presents vast amounts of new information to persuade the reader. In contrast, Saminpilji treats this knowledge as established common sense and summarizes it concisely. This suggests that the knowledge accumulated during the Hanseongsunbo period laid the foundation for its systematization and diffusion during the Saminpilji period. A fundamental difference is particularly evident in their perspectives on continents and nations. Reflecting the struggles of contemporary Asia, Hanseongsunbo strongly projects the viewpoint of a less powerful nation, expressing a sympathetic perspective on Native Americans and the colonial situation in Africa. Furthermore, it provides an in-depth treatment of a few Western powers directly tied to Joseon’s contemporary diplomatic realities, such as treaty partners and nations involved in the Sino-French War. Saminpilji, in contrast, reflects the perspective of its American author, Hulbert, by ranking the world’s nations based on the standard of “benevolent governance” and emphasizing the American principle of non-interference. It also expands its scope to cover countries worldwide, thereby adopting the format of a more systematic geography textbook. Through this comparison, this study reveals that prior to the systematic geographical information provided by Saminpilji, detailed and in-depth global information had already been circulated via Hanseongsunbo. This is significant as it demonstrates the continuous efforts of the Joseon government during the Port-Opening Period to proactively collect, process, and disseminate global information, thereby independently building a foundation for modern world knowledge.

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