On August 31, 2023, at the 74th Memorial Ceremony for Dr. Homer Hulbert at the Centennial Memorial Church in Seoul, VANK and The Hulbert Memorial Society pledged to promote the legacy of Dr. Hulbert globally.

Dr. Hulbert, a key figure in Korea’s independence movement, spent 50 years advocating for Korean sovereignty from the 1895 Eulmi Incident to liberation in 1945. Despite persecution and financial hardships after returning to the U.S. in 1907, he dedicated his life to Korea’s independence. He authored 20 books and over 300 articles to educate the world about Korean history and culture.

The organizations introduced their three-pronged global campaign.

1. Advocating for a Higher National Honor
The campaign urges the Korean government to reassess Dr. Hulbert’s Order of Merit for National Foundation, initially awarded in 1950 with limited documentation. VANK and The Hulbert Memorial Society argue that his recognition should be elevated to the highest grade, the Republic of Korea Medal.

2. Building Memorials in the U.S.
To honor Dr. Hulbert’s contributions, plans include installing a plaque at his birthplace, erecting a statue, and establishing a Korean Independence Movement History Center in the U.S. These initiatives aim to educate Americans about Korea’s independence struggle and strengthen Korea-U.S. relations.Inspired by similar efforts, such as the upcoming statue of Ernest Thomas Bethell in Bristol, UK, VANK seeks to commemorate Dr. Hulbert as part of the 70th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. alliance.

3. Recovering Korea’s Stolen Royal Funds
VANK and The Hulbert Memorial Society will work with like-minded organizations to recover the royal funds of Emperor Gojong, illegally seized by Japan and deposited in Shanghai’s Deutche Asiatic Bank.