Frank Schofield

Frank William Schofield (15 March 1889 – 16 April 1970) was a British-born Canadian veterinarian, missionary, and Korean independence activist. He is also known by his Korean name Seok Ho-pil (Korean: 석호필; Hanja: 石虎弼).

In 1916, Schofield moved to Korea as a Presbyterian missionary and lecturer at Severance Medical School. Korea was then under Japanese rule, and Schofield became known for openly criticizing Japan's repressive policies. In 1919, he became the only foreigner informed in advance of the March 1st Movement protests, now considered a seminal event in Korean history. Schofield photographed and documented the protests, and spread news of their violent suppression to the international press. His work is now considered historically significant, with his photos now displayed in textbooks and museums in South Korea. In 1920, he was pressured to leave Korea and returned to Canada. There, he continued donating to Korea and advocating for its independence.

Schofield returned to his alma mater, Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), where he would lecture and research until his retirement in 1955. He was then invited to return to South Korea by the South Korean president Syngman Rhee, and was made a professor at the veterinary college of Seoul National University. He continued being politically active; he publicly criticized the military dictatorships of Rhee and Park Chung Hee and advocated for a number of reforms in Korea. He was reportedly frugal, and donated much of his money to orphanages and scholarships. Among his beneficiaries and mentees was later Prime Minister of South Korea Chung Un-chan.

Schofield has since become beloved in South Korea. He has been described as "an eternal Korean", and received a number of awards from the country. As of 2021^[update], he is the only foreigner to be buried in Seoul National Cemetery. He is also remembered for his contributions to veterinary and biological research.

Early life and education[edit]

Frank William Schofield was born on 15 March 1889 in Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom. He was the youngest of four siblings. His mother when he was young, and his father remarried.^[1] The economic situation of Schofield's family has been described as lower middle-class.^[2] Schofield hoped to move to Canada, which he saw as a land of opportunity, and saved money by working as a farm laborer in order to move there after graduating from high school.^[1][2]

In 1907, he moved by himself to Toronto, Canada. He again worked as a farm laborer while there.^[1] In Fall of that year, he was admitted to the Ontario Veterinary College.^[3] During his schooling, Schofield experienced not only financial difficulties, but also suffered from the disease polio,^[3] which left one each of his legs and arms paralyzed.^[4] In 1911, he graduated from there with a doctorate in bacteriology.^[3][1] His thesis was entitled "The bacteriological analysis of milk being sold in Toronto". In 1912, he joined the faculty of his alma mater.^[3] In 1913, he married Alice, a piano student.^[1]

Korea[edit]

In November 1916, Schofield and his wife arrived in Korea as missionaries of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Schofield had been invited to go by the head of Severance Medical School (세브란스의학전문학교), Oliver R. Avison,^[1] and became an instructor at the school.^[4]

Schofield worked to learn the Korean language upon his arrival, and by his second year was reportedly able to give lectures in the language.^[4] He adopted a Korean name, Seok Ho-pil. The name's pronunciation resembles that of his surname. The Hanja characters in his name each have meaning; seok refers to a stone-like resolve, ho means tiger, and pil refers to assisting those in need.^[1]

At the time, Korea was under Japanese occupation. Colonial policies included Japanization efforts: forced cultural assimilation. Japan controlled institutions of education and culture, and assumed control over the economy. Koreans experienced systemic discrimination on the basis of their race. Japanese authorities were allowed to detain suspects without charge, and were known to mistreat prisoners. Christian organizations operated by foreign missionaries served as alternate sources of social organization and culture for Korean people. Japan made efforts to place restrictions on the operation of these organizations.^[5]

Schofield has been described as a skillful and intelligent orator and researcher, and also as opinionated, outspoken, and intimidating.^[2][5] He reportedly became notorious for openly criticizing Japanese colonial policies. For example, he criticized the Japanese system of prostitution that was imported to Korea; he mocked the use of the word "civilizing", which was to describe Japan's colonial policies in Korea, as "syphilizing".^[5] During his lectures, he reportedly occasionally made comments such as "no nation in the world can retain their colonies forever".^[4] He reportedly gained the trust of Korean independence activists.^[5]

March 1st Movement[edit]

Around early 1919, a series of events in Korea caused significant societal discontent against colonial rule. From 25 to 27 February, a series of secret meetings were held in Seoul by Korean independence activists, during which they produced a Korean Declaration of Independence and planned mass peaceful protests against Japan for 1 March. These protests went on to persist for months afterwards, and are now considered in South Korea to be a landmark event in Korean history.^[6]

On 28 February, Schofield became reportedly the only foreign missionary to be informed of their plans in advance.^[4][5] One of his students, Yi Gap-seong (이갑성),^[4] gave him copies of the declaration and asked him to distribute them amongst his colleagues at the medical school and to foreign governments. Schofield, who owned a camera, was also asked to photograph the protests. Schofield reportedly warned Yi against conducting the protests. Yi reportedly replied "You are an Englishmen, so think like an imperialist [sic], but we trust you". Schofield relented to helping them.^[4][5]

After the beginning of the protests, Schofield walked around and secretly took photos. These photos are now considered historically significant; they were republished in international newspapers,^[4] referred to by foreign governments when conducting investigations into the protests,^[1][5] and now appear in Korean museums and textbooks.^[4] Schofield also witnessed patients at the hospital arriving with injuries from the protests, and documented these sights.^[5] He visited Seodaemun Prison, which was notorious for maltreating its prisoners, and reportedly met Yu Gwan-sun,^[1] who is now remembered as a martyr and symbol of the movement.^[7] In May, the colonial government–backed publication The Seoul Press published an article that described prison conditions like that of a health resort;^[1][8] Schofield had a response article published that mocked this description, and described in detail the methods of torture being employed at the prison.^[1]

He also reportedly personally intervened in a number of arrests. He would claim the arrested person was his "maid" or "houseboy", and demand they be released lest the British Consulate become involved.^[4]

Documenting the Jeamni massacre[edit]

On April 15, amidst an intense Japanese raid on the vicinity of Suwon and Anseong that left hundreds of homes burnt down and dozens dead, the Jeamni massacre occurred. During this event, Japanese soldiers lured 20 to 30 Korean Christians into a church, opened fire on them, then burned the church down to destroy the bodies.^[6][5] Schofield learned of the massacre on April 17, and departed to visit its location the following day. In spite of his disabled arm and leg, he rode a bicycle for parts of the journey through the countryside.^[1]

He photographed the burnt ruins of the church, as well as of various villages and buildings destroyed by the Japanese.^[1][5][6] He conducted interviews with various witnesses, and confronted Japanese authorities at the scene.^[1]

Publicizing information about the protests[edit]

Schofield compiled his findings into reports, including "The Massacre of Chai-Amm-ni" and "Report of the Su-chon Atrocities", and submitted them for publication in the international press.^[1] He also published articles in Korea during this time. An article was published in the colonial government–backed English-language newspaper The Seoul Press that favorably described prison conditions in Seodaemun Prison; the prison was notorious for torturing independence activists. Schofield penned an anonymous response article that was published in the paper, in which he mocked the previous article and described in detail the methods of torture employed at the prison.^[4][5]

That Summer, Schofield and missionary Bishop Welch were confronted in a meeting with Japanese politicians, including the Japanese colonial governor Saitō Makoto. Schofield challenged them directly at the meeting. He also penned response articles to their statements, in which he mocked their efforts to cover up or downplay the protests, and described in graphic detail the violence that Japanese authorities had perpetrated.^[5]

In August, Schofield traveled to Japan on behalf of the missionaries in Korea. He met with Prime Minister Hara Takashi and other prominent Japanese politicians, advocated for further autonomy for Korea, and asked them to take action to stop the violent suppression of the protests. He gave a public lecture to hundreds of foreign missionaries, in which he openly criticized Japan. As Japan enacted several reforms that eased restrictions on Korea, Schofield published criticisms that described the reforms as superficial appeasement efforts.^[1]

Expulsion[edit]

In December, Saitō described Schofield as an "arch agitator" and "a most dangerous man, assiduously carrying on the independence agitation in Korea".^[5][4] The British consulate agreed with Japan's assessment, and issued Schofield a warning to cease his activism, which Schofield rebuffed. Schofield also publicly condemned British colonialism, and compared Korea's plight to that of Ireland and British India.^[5]

It is to Japan’s interests to be magnanimous with Korea, for if Korea has to pay as heavily for all her reforms as she is paying for the present ones Korea will always be the deadly enemy of Japan, and a serious menace whether ‘assimilated’ or independent…. England some day will have to satisfy Ireland in most of her demands. It would have been a much wiser policy to have granted Ireland her demands earlier, and in so doing have retained the friendship of Ireland.

The colonial government reportedly began attempting to pressure Schofield into leaving Korea. His wife's mental instability was used as a pretext for his recall to Canada;^[4] while the recall was conducted by the Presbyterian Church in Canada, it has been described as an "apparent muzzling" effort to prevent him from damaging their relationship with Japan.^[5] Upon the conclusion of Schofield's contract in March 1920, he was made to return to Canada. During his return trip (via Japan) and for years after his return to Canada, he continued submitting articles for publication to the Korean, Japanese, and international press.^[1]

Schofield appealed his recall until 1923. In 1921, he wrote to the Presbyterian Church in Canada: "As to my getting into politics in Korea when I return, there is little danger. However should the Japanese do something very bad… then I might also do something bad, but there need be little fear on this account". His appeal was debated for several years; the church feared that his political activism would damage their relationship with Japan, and was also experiencing financial difficulties. Legault and Prescott argue that Schofield himself ultimately declined to return to Korea, in consideration of his wife's health.^[5]

Schofield visited Korea again in Summer of 1926. He submitted a number of articles to the Korean newspaper The Dong-a Ilbo during and after his trip. In a 1931 letter, he wrote that he had come to identify himself as a Korean, and felt that Korea was his homeland. He gave a number of recommendations to the Korean people to improve their situation.^[1]

Later life[edit]

In 1921, Schofield was made Director of Veterinary Hygiene and Research at OVC.^[3] He continued to teach and research there for 35 years.^[4][3] During this time, Schofield continued to advocate for the Korean independence movement, and also donated to Korean orphanages and churches.^[2]

Schofield published on the etiology and pathology of moldy sweet clover poisoning, which contributed to the discovery of the anticoagulant warfarin.^[2][3] In a 2003 memorial lecture to Schofield, speaker Tony Hayes argued that Schofield's discovery that orally-introduced substances could cause clotting was a seminal discovery of the 20th century in the veterinary field.^[3] Hayes claimed that warfarin was later given to Schofield in 1958, after he experienced a heart attack, and that he possibly benefitted from his own research.^[3]

In 1948, he became the only Canadian founding member of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.^[3] Schofield also researched on various biological issues related to livestock, bacteriology, and virology.^[3]

In 1955, Schofield retired from OVC due to problems with his eyesight.^[3]

Return to Korea[edit]

His wife died in 1957. Previously, his friends in Korea had urged him to return to the peninsula, but he had declined these for various reasons.^[1] In August 1958, he accepted an invitation to return to Korea from South Korean president Syngman Rhee.^[4][1] He was reportedly surprised and disheartened at the conditions in Korea, which was recovering from the 1950–1953 Korean War. Rhee ran a repressive military dictatorship, and there were numerous orphans and unemployed people.^[1]

He was made a professor of the Veterinary College of Seoul National University (SNU). While teaching there, he supported two orphanages and a vocational school, and paid to cover tuition expenses of students.^[1][4] He also led a youth bible study class.^[1]

Schofield became a vocal critic of Rhee's administration. He wrote articles that criticized Rhee's interference in democratic processes and restrictions on freedom of speech. He argued that open discussion was important for improvement, and evoked his experience in the March 1st Movement.^[1] This caused the administration to attempt to pressure Schofield into leaving Korea.^[4] On one occasion, he was prevented from lecturing at SNU.^[1] The administration's pressures on him ended after the 1960 April Revolution protests against Rhee, which Schofield described as "the triumph of righteousness, courage and freedom over tyranny, corruption, brutality" and likened to the spirit of the March 1st Movement.^[4][1] After the May 16 coup, during which Park Chung Hee established a military dictatorship over South Korea, Schofield initially expressed optimism that the regime could combat corruption in the country. He later published a number of articles that criticized the regime's actions.^[4] Schofield also advocated for various other reforms, including efforts to address corruption and reform Christian churches in Korea.^[1]

Whilst traveling abroad in 1969, Schofield experienced issues with cardiac asthma, and his health declined.^[1][4] He was hospitalized, but continued writing and submitted articles for publication in newspapers.^[1]

On 12 April 1970, he died at Seoul National University Hospital, at the age of 81.^[4][1] On 16 April, a public funeral was held for him.^[4]

Legacy[edit]

Schofield was the first and, as of 2021^[update], only foreigner to buried in Seoul National Cemetery.^[5] His tombstone reads:^[1][a]

The blessed Doctor Schofield, a Canadian who devoted his life for the sake of our self-reliant independence, rests peacefully here.

He has been widely praised in South Korea. Prime Minister Chung Il-kwon described him as "an eternal Korean".^[4] He has been described as an instrumental figure in the March 1st Movement, and dubbed "the 34th man", in reference to the 33 signers of the Korean Declaration of Independence.^[3]

In 1960, he received the South Korean Order of Cultural Merit medal,^[4][3] as well as the Key to the City of Seoul.^[3] On 1 March 1968,^[1] he received the South Korean Order of Merit for National Foundation.^[3] In 1970, he received the Distinguished Member title from the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, the organization's highest title, in a ceremony in Seoul.^[3] In 2003, it was reported that the OVC hosted a Schofield Lecture series, and that their top undergraduate award for pathology was called the Schofield prize.^[3]

Schofield was reportedly known for donating a significant amount of his own money and belongings to others. He reportedly lived in a small rented house during his time at OVC, and often lacked funds to travel.^[3]

Chung Un-chan, Prime Minister of South Korea from 2009 to 2010, later recalled that Schofield paid for his tuition expenses and served as a mentor to him. Chung wrote of this in a biography of Schofield entitled I Wish to be Buried in Korea:^[4]

Back then, my family's circumstances were such that we worried about feeding ourselves... Not only did Doctor Schofield generously provide for my tuition and expenses, he was my spiritual pillar who greatly affected the molding of my character… Having lost my father when I was young, Dr. Schofield was like a true father to me... I vividly remember him lamenting that in Korea the rich have not an iota of sympathy for the poor as he witnessed the widening gap between the rich and poor during the economic growth of the 1960s. He…advised me to choose economics as my major in college. He encouraged me to spend my life working to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor.

References[edit]

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