The Drift Journey and Repatriation Circumstances of Yang Ujong and His Party from Jeju to Ryukyu (Okinawa) in the Late 19th Century : Focusing on a Comparative Analysis of Pyohae Ilgi by Yang Ujongand Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Records

This study focuses on Pyohae Ilgi (“Record of a Sea Drift”), written by Yang Ujong, a military officer from Jeju, which documents a previously overlooked drift incident involving Jeju residents who were cast adrift to Ryukyu (modern-day Okinawa) in the late 19th century. By cross-analyzing this Korean source with relevant archival materials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, this study offers a deeper investigation into the details of the drift incident. Pyohae Ilgi records the full three-month journey of Yang Ujong (1863-1917) and 14 others who departed from Jocheon Port in Jeju on December 17, 1893, during the 30th year of King Gojong’s reign. After encountering a storm, they drifted to Ryukyu (Okinawa) and were eventually repatriated around March 1894. This journal serves as the only known Korean source documenting this specific incident, thereby holding significant historical value. In addition to Pyohae Ilgi, Japanese archival materials, specifically the Miscellaneous Records on the Rescue of Distressed Ships and Castaways: Joseon Section (Kon'nansenkyū Hyōmin Kyūjo Zakken: Chōsenkoku no Bu), contain detailed accounts of the drift, rescue, and repatriation of the fifteen individuals. These documents provide additional context and information not found in Yang’s journal, allowing for a more comprehensive and multi-dimensional reconstruction of the event. Ultimately, this study highlights that the historical understanding of Korean castaways in foreign territories cannot rely solely on domestic records. It argues that only through cross-referencing and verifying with documents preserved in the host country can the full scope of such drift incidents be objectively reconstructed.