Bak Jeongyang

Park Jeong-yang (Korean: 박정양; Hanja: 朴定陽; 4 February 1841 – 15 December 1905[1]) was a Korean Joseon dynasty politician and edification activist,[2] as well as a member of the Independence Club (독립협회; 獨立協會) and the People's Joint Association (만민공동회; 萬民共同會).

He was a supporter of the slow modernization of Korea under the Joseon dynasty and himself belonged to the Bannam Park clan [ko].

Park Jeong-yang was appointed ambassador to the United States by the king in 1887.

This diplomatic mission was strongly opposed by the Qing dynasty of China, which viewed Korea as a vassal state.

[citation needed]Joseon was enjoying Westphalian sovereignty at the time of the diplomatic mission.