The Korean Empire legation in Washington is expected to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places per an announcement on Aug. 7 in the U.S. federal government’s gazette. (Korea Heritage Service)
By Lee Jihae
The former building of the Korean Empire legation in Washington is expected to be listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, the gazette of the U.S. federal government said on Aug. 7.
The Korea Heritage Service (KHS) and Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation held consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant government branches before applying for the listing in March.
After reviewing the application, the Washington Historic Preservation Review Board after its final review said the building meets the requirements for inclusion in the register.
The board praised the building for having high value in preservation and interpretation as a distinct historical place related to an ethnic minority in the U.S., as well as the structure retaining its original form during renovation.
The U.S. National Park Service will conduct a public review through Aug. 22 and make a final decision on the listing next month. If it receives the designation, the building will qualify for tax exemptions and financial support under certain circumstances from the grant program Save America’s Treasures.
Built in 1877, the building was used by the legation until November 1905, when the Korean Empire lost its diplomatic sovereignty to Japan due to the Eulsa Treaty.
Korea was forced to sell the building to Japan, and in 1910, it was sold to the U.S. The structure housed the office of Local 639 of the Teamsters Union and later the National Council of Negro Women.
In 2012, the Cultural Heritage Administration (now the KHS) bought back the building and after five years of research, restoration and refurbishment, the facility was reopened as Old Korean Legation Museum in 2018. With free admission, the museum is open six days a week with guides in English and Korean available.
jihlee08@korea.kr
