Commemoration of Lee Joon: A Legacy of Sacrifice and Dedication

In the heart of The Hague, Netherlands, lies the Lee Joon Memorial Hall, dedicated to the Korean independence activist Lee Joon (이준), who served as a special envoy for King Gojong in 1907. Alongside fellow activists Lee Sang-seol (이상설) and Lee Wi-jong (이위종), Lee Joon stayed at the De Jong Hotel during the Second International Peace Conference, which commenced on June 15, 1907. Unfortunately, the trio was unable to enter the conference due to Japanese interference, forcing them to advocate for Korea's sovereignty outside the venue. The 23-year-old Lee Wi-jong, fluent in English, French, and Russian, took the lead in delivering speeches and interviews, notably presenting 'A Plea for Korea.'

Tragically, Lee Joon passed away suddenly on July 14, 1907, at the hotel. Initially reported as a suicide, the Korean newspaper Daehan Maeil Sinbo claimed he took his own life out of deep frustration, stating, 'He could not contain his loyal anger and thus sacrificed himself, shedding blood before the international envoys.' However, the Hwangseong Sinmun reported more cautiously, suggesting he may have died from self-inflicted wounds.

In 1962, the National Institute of Korean History concluded that Lee Joon did not commit suicide but rather died from an untreated illness, which could have been easily cured. His death occurred while he was on a diplomatic mission abroad, marking him as a martyr for his country.

Following Lee Joon's death, Japan used the incident as a pretext to dethrone King Gojong on July 19, 1907, replacing him with the puppet ruler, King Sunjong (순종). Lee Joon was buried three days earlier at the Ikendau Cemetery in The Hague. The Sunjong government sentenced Lee Sang-seol to death by hanging and imposed life sentences on Lee Joon and Lee Wi-jong, leaving them unable to return to their homeland.

Born in Bukcheong, Hamgyeong Province, Lee Joon was a graduate of the first class of the Judicial Training Institute, Korea's first modern legal education institution. He was active in the Independence Club in 1896 and studied at Waseda University in Japan. In 1962, he was posthumously awarded the Order of Merit for National Foundation, and in 1963, his remains were returned to Korea after 55 years, where he was interred at the National Cemetery in Suyu, Seoul.