Interpreter close to Emperor Gojong, secret envoy for neutrality diplomacy and exile activist in Shanghai
| Life | 1875 ~ 1926 |
| Era | 대한제국~일제강점기 |
| Clan | 연주 현씨 |
Hyeon Sang-geon (1875-1926), born in Hanseong, was an interpreter and diplomat of the Korean Empire, introduced as of the Chanseong-gong line of the Yeonju Hyeon clan. His father Hyeon Myeong-un was an interpreter and governor of Dongnae. He was fluent in French and also used Russian and English.
Beginning at the telegraph bureau in 1888, he became a translator at the foreign ministry in 1898 and served close to Emperor Gojong as translation chief and in the ceremonies office, also leading a school and business ventures. In 1903 he went as Gojong’s secret envoy to France, then the Netherlands and Russia, to seek neutrality for Korea. The January 1904 neutrality declaration was undercut by the Korea-Japan Protocol in February.
He refused a Japanese-proposed alliance, went into exile in Shanghai, led the Daedong Bogukhoe, helped raise defense funds for An Jung-geun and was named an assessor of the 1919 Hanseong government. He died in 1926 and received the Patriotism Medal in 1995.
His family belonged to the interpreter class; his language skills took him through the telegraph bureau, the foreign ministry and the palace, interpreting for Gojong and foreign advisers.
His 1903 trip failed as no peace conference was held and the court at The Hague was in recess; the January 1904 declaration never won great-power backing.
After opposing a Japan-proposed alliance he joined the independence movement in Shanghai, where Hyeon Jeong-geon was also active.
His grave was not confirmed.
Two sons and a daughter; legislator Hyeon Jeong-ju, painter Hyeon Chae-mi and professor Hyeon Byeong-gu are mentioned as descendants.