Bak Jeongyang

Bak Jeongyang (Korean: 박정양; Hanja: 朴定陽; 1841 – 1904) was a Korean Joseon dynasty politician and edification activist.[1] a member of Independence Club (독립협회;獨立協會) and the People's Joint Association (만민공동회;萬民共同會). He was a supporter of the slow modernization of Korea under the Joseon dynasty and himself belonged to the Pannam Park clan.[2] He was also the father of famous Korean playwright Park Seung-hee (1901-1964). Bak Jeongyang was appointed ambassador to the United States by the king in 1887. This diplomatic mission was strongly opposed by the Qing dynasty of China, which viewed Korea as a vassal state [citation needed: Joseon was enjoying Westphalian sovereignty at the time of the diplomatic mission]. After many years' conflict, Park was punished and ostracized. The episode is considered representative of Korea's desire for complete independence colliding with the Qing desire to maintain the traditional tributary ties, Park became a victim of this conflict. Park was also the author of a few books.

Bak Jeongyang 박정양
Park Jeongyang, around 1888's
Prime Minister of Joseon
In office 31 May 1895 – 24 August 1895
Monarch	Gojong
Preceded by	Kim Hong-jip
Succeeded by	Kim Hong-jip
Personal details
Born	(1842-02-04)4 February 1842
Died	15 December 1905(1905-12-15) (aged 63)
Korean name
Hangul	박정양
Hanja	朴定陽
Revised Romanization	Bak Jeongyang
McCune–Reischauer	Pak Chŏngyang
Pen name
Hangul	죽천
Hanja	竹泉
Revised Romanization	Jukcheon
McCune–Reischauer	Chukch'ŏn
Courtesy name
Hangul	치중
Hanja	致中
Revised Romanization	Chijung
McCune–Reischauer	Ch'ijung
Posthumous name
Hangul	문익
Hanja	文翼
Revised Romanization	Munik
McCune–Reischauer	Munik