An Italian Diplomat at the Court of King Kojong: Images and Historical Account of Consul Carlo Rossett

This study examines the experiences and representations of the Italian diplomat Carlo Rossetti at the court of King Kojong of Korea in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Drawing upon archival documents, personal letters, travel accounts, and contemporary publications, the research investigates Rossetti’s role in diplomatic negotiations and his observations of Korean society, institutions, and international relations. Visual sources and eyewitness accounts are examined to understand how European perspectives on Korea were constructed and circulated, situating Rossetti’s experiences within the broader context of imperial competition, unequal treaties, and the representation of Korea as ‘the Other’. Italy established diplomatic relations with Korea in 1884, opening its consulate in Seoul in the same year. Rossetti, appointed Consul to Korea in 1902, served for only a brief period (1902-1903). Yet he was able to collect a remarkable amount of material on the social, economic, geographical, and cultural aspects of Korea. His documentation included books, reports, and photographs that together provide a detailed and comprehensive picture of Korean life at the turn of the century. This study pays particular attention to Rossetti’s photographic collection, analyzing how his images reflect Western perceptions and contribute to the historical narrative of Korea. By combining textual and visual analysis, the article highlights Rossetti’s unique contribution as both a diplomat and an observer, offering fresh insights into the Italian presence in East Asia and Korea’s encounter with Europe.