Philip Jaisohn's Personal Tragedy

Due to his involvement in the failed 1884 coup in Korea, Philip Jaisohn escaped to Japan and later the United States. But his family remaining in Korea were not so lucky.

Apparently it was the custom in Korea that if one had committed treason, one's family should commit suicide, or the government would execute them.

Indeed, Jaisohn's parents first committed suicide, followed by Jaisohn's wife who poisoned herself. The Jaisohn's only son, who was two years old, reportedly died of starvation because no one could take care of him.

Jaisohn's 15 year-old brother So Jai-chang was executed in downtown Seoul apparently because he had not committed suicide.