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Person1832 – 1903

Ernst Oppert

German merchant who, refused trade, tried to rob the tomb of Prince Namyeon in 1868

He came to Korea twice in 1866 to seek trade and was turned away. In 1868 he tried to dig up the tomb of Prince Namyeon, father of the Heungseon Daewongun, at Deoksan in Chungcheong, hoping to use the remains to force open trade, but failed. The incident deepened hostility toward the West and hardened the Daewongun's policy of refusing trade and treaties.

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    1868Oppert’s Grave Robbery Attemptleader

    Refused trade, the German merchant Ernst Oppert tried and failed to dig up the tomb of the Daewongun’s father, hardening Korea’s refusal of the West.

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  • Heungseon Daewongun1820 – 1898

    Gojong's father and regent, who rebuilt Gyeongbokgung and rejected Western trade