[Joseon Images] Hotel rivalry in Seoul in 1900s
(WorldNews South Korea)

Hotel du Palais in the summer of 1901 / Robert Neff Collection By Robert Neff At the dawn of the 20th century, Seoul was one of the most modern cities in Asia. Streetcars conveyed passengers from one end of the city to the other, shops were filled with imported goods, and the luxuries of telephones and electricity were slowly but surely being introduced. In September 1899, a railroad connected the capital with Jemulpo (modern-day Incheon) and, as a result, more tourists began to visit Seoul. Despite its many Western modernizations, Seoul was not ready for Western tourism; the only accommodations available to tourists were in the homes of the expat community, their respective legations,...