During Korea’s modernization in the late 19th century and the independence movement against Japan from 1905 to 1945, an unparalleled individual made invaluable contributions to Korea. This individual was Homer Bezaleel Hulbert, who first encountered Korea at the age of 23 and dedicated 63 years of his life solely for Korea’s sake until his passing in 1949.

Dr. Hulbert, an American born in Vermont in 1863 to a college president father and a descendant of the founder of Dartmouth College mother, arrived in Korea to become a teacher at Korea's first state-run modern school in Korean history on July 5, 1886, at the invitation of the 26th King Gojong of the Joseon Kingdom. Graduating from Dartmouth College, one of the Ivy League schools, in 1884, he entered Union Theological Seminary in New York but dropped out in 1886 to come to Korea. He subsequently lived as an educator, linguist, journalist, historian, missionary, special envoy of the Korean Emperor, and advocate of Korean independence for two decades in Korea until being expelled by Japan in 1907.

Homer Hulbert, as the writer rechristened him, was 'a man who loved Korea more than Koreans themselves.' He was a pioneer of Korean education, Hangeul (Korean alphabet), journalism, Korean studies, and a settler of Christianity along with other missionaries who arrived early in Korea. Most importantly, he was an ardent activist for the independence of Korea against the gathering cloud of Japanese domination. Dr. Hulbert’s life never deviated from the very stern spirits of 19th-century Christianity prevalent in the northeast of America and the family tradition of justice, humanity, and righteous patriotism, significantly impacting Korean elites in their efforts for civilization and the independence movement. Dr. Hulbert’s major accomplishments are as follows:

Dr. Hulbert initiated his journey in Korea by teaching at YukYeong GongWon (육영공원 Royal College) and later contributed to renowned schools such as "Bae Jae Hak Dang"  (배재학당), HanSeong Normal School (한성사범학교, currently Seoul National University), and the first state-run middle school (관립중학교, currently Kyeong Gi High School) over two decades. As the inaugural teacher of Korea's first modern school, he crafted a roadmap for the establishment of a modern educational system in Korea. Driven by the belief that education was the key to Korea's future, he passionately conveyed this message to the Korean people.

Moreover, Dr. Hulbert played a pivotal role in the establishment of a textbook system, personally overseeing the publication of 15 textbooks. His initiatives had a profound impact on Korean students, inspiring them to strive for intellectual excellence and genuine patriotism. Many of his students went on to serve Korea in various capacities, contributing to the country's modernization and quest for independent sovereignty.

Dr. Hulbert made phenomenal contributions to the advancement of Korean music. Traditionally, Korean music had been sung and passed down through generations without the use of Western-style musical scores. However, Dr. Hulbert, through attentive listening, created musical scores for Korean folk songs, ushering in a new era for Korean music. In 1896, he wrote an article titled "Korean Vocal Music", in which he praised Koreans with musical talents, stating, “Koreans become poets like William Wordsworth when they sing, and they are masters of improvisation.”

In this groundbreaking article, Hulbert, for the first time in Korean history, composed musical scores for 아리랑 (Arirang), an iconic folk song that remains significant to this day. He also recorded the lyrics. He predicted in the article that Arirang would endure as a lasting song for Koreans, a prediction that has proven true to this day.

During his 63 years in Korea, Homer Hulbert's most remarkable contribution was his unwavering and tireless fight against Japan for the recovery of Korean sovereignty. His dedicated efforts spanned 50 years, from 1895 to 1945, a unique case even among Koreans. In 1895, he became the night watch for King Gojong, protecting him from pro-Japan conspirators right in front of the king's sleeping room with a pistol in hand.

In 1905, he served as a special envoy of the Korean Emperor to American President Theodore Roosevelt, seeking America's support for Korea as stipulated in the Korea-U.S. Treaty signed in 1882. When the Roosevelt administration dismissed Korea's request for support against Japan's protectorate plot, as per the treaty, Dr. Hulbert strongly criticized President Roosevelt for betraying Korea, expressing his discontent through newspapers, including the New York Times.

Dr. Hulbert also served as a special envoy to nine state heads with whom Korea had treaties in 1907. He played a crucial role in dispatching three secret emissaries to the 1907 Hague Conference for International Peace, appealing to Western powers to help halt Japanese dominance. Unfortunately, influenced by Japan, the Western powers blocked the entry of Korean representatives to the conference, leading to the mission's failure. Following this incident, Japan forced the abdication of Emperor Gojong and expelled Hulbert from Korea, prompting his return to the United States.

In 1919, after the outbreak of the 3.1 revolution, a Korean uprising against Japan, Dr. Hulbert filed a statement titled "What About Korea?" with the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee. In this statement, he urged the U.S. to compel Japan to restore Korea to its independent state. Continuously advocating for the recovery of Korean independence, he wrote to journals and addressed people in America and Canada for 38 years, persisting in his efforts until 1945 when Korea was liberated.