Formation of Syngman Rhee’s Open Worldview and His Writings in Prison: A Bibliographical Review

Abstract

Syngman Rhee embraced Christianity when he was imprisoned in Hansung Prison. He converted fellow prisoners there, and set up a school and a library to teach them. The prison school and the library were the birthplace of the coexistence of civilization. Rhee enlightened prisoners and expanded his worldview through a large amount of reading. Rhee read Christian books, books on international law, newspapers and magazines, and literary books in prison. Rhee's writing in prison is divided into books and editorials. Rhee's remaining translations and writings in prison are Cheyeok jip (Anthology of Poems Written in Lieu of Physical Labor), Cheong-Il jeon-gi (A History of the Sino-Japanese War), New English-Korean Dictionary, and The Spirit of Independence. Rhee was able to carry out several tasks at the same time because he wrote and translated according to a meticulous plan, and carefully recorded the writing schedule in various places. From February 8, 1902 to August 7, 1904, Rhee also contributed numerous anonymous editorials to the Jeguk sinmun (Imperial Newspaper) and spread the strategy of Joseon's independence to the public based on his open worldview.