Historic Korean Legation Building in Washington Achieves U.S. National Register Status

SEOUL, Sept. 12 (Korea Bizwire) – In a landmark recognition of its historical significance, the former Korean Empire Legation in Washington, D.C., has been officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), South Korean officials announced on September 11.

The building, now known as the Old Korean Legation, stands as a testament to the Korean Empire’s efforts to establish independent diplomatic relations at the turn of the 20th century. This designation marks the first time a property owned by the South Korean government and centered on Korean history has been added to the NRHP. 

“The building’s core value lies in its role as a site of Korean-American diplomacy in Washington, D.C., making it a place of great importance in American history,” explained a representative from South Korea’s Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA). 

The National Park Service, which oversees the NRHP, reportedly placed high value on the legation’s historical significance. The CHA noted that both the interior and exterior of the building have been well-preserved, with recent restoration efforts by the Korean government faithfully recreating its historical spaces. 

Located approximately 1.5 kilometers from the White House, the building was originally constructed in 1877 as the residence of Seth L. Phelps, a Civil War veteran turned politician and diplomat. It gained its diplomatic significance in 1889 when it became Korea’s first diplomatic mission to a Western nation. 

The legation served as the center of Korean diplomacy in the United States for about 16 years, from 1889 until 1905, when Korea lost its diplomatic sovereignty under Japanese pressure. Following Japan’s annexation of Korea in 1910, the building changed hands multiple times before being repurchased by the South Korean government in 2012. 

After extensive restoration, the building reopened as a historical exhibition hall in May 2018. According to the CHA, it is the only surviving structure among the approximately 30 foreign legations that existed in 19th-century Washington, D.C. that retains its original form. 

The CHA plans to promote the Old Korean Legation as a prime example of “K-Shared Heritage,” a concept introduced to actively preserve, manage, and utilize Korean-related heritage sites abroad that share historical and cultural value with other countries. 

To increase public engagement, the CHA and the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation have been operating a shuttle bus service since early this year for Korean residents in the Washington metropolitan area, including Maryland and Virginia. The service runs on the second Wednesday and Saturday of each month. 

A CHA official emphasized the significance of this recognition, stating, “This is the first time a Korean-related building in the United States has been designated as a National Historic Place by the U.S. federal government, granting it a new legal status as federal cultural heritage.”

Image credit: The Cultural Heritage Administration / photonews@koreabizwire.com