고종대 훈장제도의 도입 = Introduction of the Order System in the King Gojong period

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

An order is a commendation bestowed upon individuals whose outstanding service to the rule of the country is recognized. Being an institution that originated in Europe, an order became institutionalized in Japan(1875), Qing(1881), and Daehan Empire(1900) following the full-scale exchanges between the Orient and West in the late 19th century. This study set out to examine how a Western-style order was understood in Joseon during the reign of King Gojong, traced the process of attempting to introduce an order institution, and reviewed the content of an order institution that was arranged finally.
It is difficult to confirm the exact time when Joseon first recognized a Western-style order, but it managed to understand an order little by little through its exchange with foreign countries. The earliest record of an order that is currently verified is the report made by an inspection team after its visit to Japan in 1881. Following it, Joseon confirmed in the process of forging a treaty with a Western country that foreign officials introduced themselves with their titles and orders they received. In 1896, Min Yeong-hwan received an order from the tsar. He was the first government official of Joseon to receive an order from a foreign emperor, garnering attention from King Gojong and the press.
After understanding an order, Joseon attempted to introduce an order institution. There was one in 1895, but it fizzled out amid the confusing situations created by the Eulmi Incident(1895) and King Gojong`s Flight to the Russian Legation. Following the event, King Gojong returned to Gyeongungung Palace and received an order from the Japanese emperor in April, 1897, which made it full-blown to introduce an order institution through Japan and Russia. The military authorities imported orders made in Japan, and King Gojong asked a Russian official named Veber to make orders. In the end, orders were introduced from Japan, which was apparent in the organization of Pyohunwon, Joseon's documents exchanged with the outside, and the articles of The Independent.
One can figure out the order institution established during the reign of King Gojong based on the "official regulations of Pyohunwon," which was in charge of affairs related to orders, and the "Order Ordinance," which covers the institutions related to orders. In 1899, Emperor Gojong gave an order to create an institution to show the representation(symbol) of the outstanding service of individuals who served the country remarkably. Following his order, Pyohunwon was set up with the proclamation of the "official regulations of Pyohunwon" and the "Order Ordinance" in 1900. They marked the start of an order institution in Joseon. The "official regulations of Pyohunwon" and the "Order Ordinance" proclaimed as a royal order underwent several revisions during the reign of King Gojong.
Following the proclamation of the "official regulations of Pyohunwon" in 1900, Emperor Gojong awarded an order to the emperor and crown prince of Japan and Daehan empire's secretaries of state. The orders given to the emperor and crown prince of Japan were a return to the order that King Gojong received from the Japanese emperor and a congratulation for the wedding of the Japanese crown prince. At the same time, Emperor Gojong awarded a Taegeuk Order to seven secretaries of state in Daehan empire, who all received the decoration for their contributions to Daehan empire's diplomatic affairs. Since then, an order was awarded for various reasons, but the decorations of orders right after the establishment of the order institution were all based on meritorious service in the "field of diplomacy," which implies the importance of orders and diplomatic affairs in those days.