The gossip columnist from a hundred years ago

Tonight's Royal Asiatic Society lecture will feature Robert Neff and is titled "Scandals and gossip from Joseon Korea’s past." Having heard a few of the stories before, I'm sure it will be interesting:

In the 1890s and early 1900s, the Western community in Korea was quite small and consisted mainly of American missionaries, advisors and diplomats – all very highly respectable men and women. But even admirable people have their secrets and faults.

Some of these faults included alcoholism and gambling, among other things:

And, of course, sex also played a key role in scandals and gossip. Secret romances, troubles involving mistresses, babies born out of wedlock and even alleged sexual assaults. Perhaps even more shocking were the acts of infidelity including those committed by the British representative’s promiscuous wife.

More details can be found here. The lecture will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Residents' Lounge on the 2nd floor of the Somerset Palace in Seoul, which is north of (and behind) Jogyesa Temple, and is 5,000 won for non-member and free for members.