How a Small Nation’s Petition Reached 30 U.S. News Outlets
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
Newly discovered archival materials show that in 1921–22 Syngman Rhee’s Korean Mission used press releases and petition diplomacy at the Washington Naval Conference to promote Korea’s independence. Though not officially invited, the Korean Mission—led by Rhee with Seo Jae-pil as deputy—assembled petitions signed by royal, civic and regional leaders (372 signatories) and circulated six diplomatic documents to conference delegations. They also prepared English-language press releases (dated Jan 2, 1922) to attract U.S. media attention; more than 30 American newspapers covered the petition, with some outlets calling it the conference’s most notable document. The campaign framed Korea as a small nation whose independent, buffer status was essential to peace in Asia. (Korean Mission: the unofficial Korean delegation to international conferences; Syngman Rhee: leader of the provisional Korean government; Seo Jae-pil: Korean independence activist)
