Lee Sang-seol (1870-1917) was a civil servant and independence activist during the Japanese occupation of Korea. He served in positions such as Counselor of Uijeongbu, and after the Eulsa Treaty, he fled to Bukgando, where he established Seojeon School. He was dispatched as a special envoy to The Hague, and he organized the 13 Provinces Army and the Korean Liberation Army Government. It is said that Ahn Jung-geun also respected Lee Sang-seol. He died in March 1917 in Nikolsk while striving to restore national sovereignty. This letter was sent by him from Vladivostok, Russia. His exceptional handwriting reflects his dignified character.
I humbly offer this. I wonder if the weather is still harsh as you travel in the cold winter drizzle. I look up and hope you are in good health. My shoulder pain remains the same as the day before, which worries me. When do you plan to return to this port? My longing for your return runs deep. I won’t go into further details, as you can hear the rest from Kim Seong-gyu. I pay my respects.
Written on the thirteenth day of the winter solstice in 1909, by Lee Sang-seol.
