ABSTRACT
By the 1890s, King Gojong’s portrait photographs had begun to circulate in the domestic and international media. King Gojong proclaimed the founding of the Korean Empire, declaring himself emperor. This series of political events focused international attention on the tense relationship between Japan, Korea, and Russia. Throughout the Joseon Dynasty, royal portraits served as objects of worship in state rituals, while also symbolizing the divine authority of the crown. Portraits of Joseon kings were produced under careful observation according to strict regulations. In 1897, hoping to signal that his nation was no longer a kingdom of the past, King Gojong proclaimed himself emperor and announced the founding of the Korean Empire. Traditional portraits were not simply replaced by portrait photos or Western oil paintings; instead, the role of royal portraits expanded from ritualistic implements to national symbols used for political propaganda.
