The term 'insurance' refers to a contract in which one party agrees to pay a premium, and in return, the other party promises to provide a certain amount of compensation or benefits in the event of an uncertain accident affecting property, life, or health (Commercial Code Article 638). In Chinese, it is written as '保險', and in English, it is 'Insurance'. The dictionary definition of Insurance aligns with the meaning of '보험' in Korean. When the concept of Insurance was imported from the West, it was translated as '보험' rather than using the English term 'insurance'. So, how did the term 'insurance' originate?
Before the Western insurance system was introduced, historical records from China and Korea used expressions that conveyed the meaning of 'to occupy (rely on, protect) a dangerous area' (as seen in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, the Old Book of Tang, etc.). However, this usage is unrelated to the modern concept of Insurance. From the mid-19th century, East Asia began to encounter Western culture, leading to the translation of numerous concepts and terms, including 'freedom (自由)', 'rights (權利)', and 'society (社會)'. The term 'insurance' in its current sense also emerged during this period.
The first appearance of the term 'insurance' in the context we use today in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty was during the reign of King Gojong. The 5th article of the Treaty of Ganghwa, signed with Japan in 1883, mentions 'insurance fees' in relation to the specification of damaged cargo. Similarly, the 5th article of the Treaty of Commerce with Russia in 1888 and the 1st article of the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation with Austria in 1892 stipulated that 'insurance premiums' would be added to the value of cargo for tax assessment. By the end of the 19th century, the term 'insurance' frequently appeared in various Korean texts.
While no records indicate that the concept of Insurance or the term '보험' was introduced in Korea before 1883, it is known that Japan was already familiar with the concept and widely used the term. The modern introduction of the Insurance system in Japan is attributed to Fukuzawa Yukichi, a prominent educator and philosopher, who explained Insurance in his books 'Western Affairs' and 'Guide to Western Travel', translating it as '請負' and '請合' based on earlier scholars. Following Fukuzawa, the understanding of Insurance spread in Japan, with the term '보험' quickly replacing earlier translations.
This shift was influenced by the 'Yinghua Dictionary', a comprehensive Chinese-English dictionary published by German missionary Wilhelm Robsahm between 1866 and 1869, which defined Insurance as '보험'. This dictionary was widely read in Japan shortly after its publication and significantly impacted the compilation of modern Japanese-English dictionaries.
However, there is speculation that the term '보험' may have originated in Japan before being reflected in the 'Yinghua Dictionary' and then re-exported back to Japan. Notably, a Dutch-Japanese dictionary compiled in Japan in 1816 referred to Insurance as '보험'.
Nevertheless, before the introduction of the 'Yinghua Dictionary', terms like '請負' and '請合' were commonly used in Japan, and there is no evidence that Robsahm referenced Japanese materials when using the term '보험'. In fact, in southern China, where maritime trade flourished, terms like '担保' and '保险' were used to translate Insurance even before Robsahm's time, indicating that the introduction of Western insurance systems occurred in China before Japan.
In summary, the term '보험' (保險, meaning to protect from risk) began to spread in the 1860s through the efforts of a German missionary in China. Subsequently, within about a decade, '보험' replaced existing terms in Japan, and it is likely that it was introduced to Korea by 1883. This is how the term 'insurance' came to be.
Before the Western insurance system was introduced, historical records from China and Korea used expressions that conveyed the meaning of 'to occupy (rely on, protect) a dangerous area' (as seen in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, the Old Book of Tang, etc.). However, this usage is unrelated to the modern concept of Insurance. From the mid-19th century, East Asia began to encounter Western culture, leading to the translation of numerous concepts and terms, including 'freedom (自由)', 'rights (權利)', and 'society (社會)'. The term 'insurance' in its current sense also emerged during this period.
The first appearance of the term 'insurance' in the context we use today in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty was during the reign of King Gojong. The 5th article of the Treaty of Ganghwa, signed with Japan in 1883, mentions 'insurance fees' in relation to the specification of damaged cargo. Similarly, the 5th article of the Treaty of Commerce with Russia in 1888 and the 1st article of the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation with Austria in 1892 stipulated that 'insurance premiums' would be added to the value of cargo for tax assessment. By the end of the 19th century, the term 'insurance' frequently appeared in various Korean texts.
While no records indicate that the concept of Insurance or the term '보험' was introduced in Korea before 1883, it is known that Japan was already familiar with the concept and widely used the term. The modern introduction of the Insurance system in Japan is attributed to Fukuzawa Yukichi, a prominent educator and philosopher, who explained Insurance in his books 'Western Affairs' and 'Guide to Western Travel', translating it as '請負' and '請合' based on earlier scholars. Following Fukuzawa, the understanding of Insurance spread in Japan, with the term '보험' quickly replacing earlier translations.
This shift was influenced by the 'Yinghua Dictionary', a comprehensive Chinese-English dictionary published by German missionary Wilhelm Robsahm between 1866 and 1869, which defined Insurance as '보험'. This dictionary was widely read in Japan shortly after its publication and significantly impacted the compilation of modern Japanese-English dictionaries.
However, there is speculation that the term '보험' may have originated in Japan before being reflected in the 'Yinghua Dictionary' and then re-exported back to Japan. Notably, a Dutch-Japanese dictionary compiled in Japan in 1816 referred to Insurance as '보험'.
Nevertheless, before the introduction of the 'Yinghua Dictionary', terms like '請負' and '請合' were commonly used in Japan, and there is no evidence that Robsahm referenced Japanese materials when using the term '보험'. In fact, in southern China, where maritime trade flourished, terms like '担保' and '保险' were used to translate Insurance even before Robsahm's time, indicating that the introduction of Western insurance systems occurred in China before Japan.
In summary, the term '보험' (保險, meaning to protect from risk) began to spread in the 1860s through the efforts of a German missionary in China. Subsequently, within about a decade, '보험' replaced existing terms in Japan, and it is likely that it was introduced to Korea by 1883. This is how the term 'insurance' came to be.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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