Not long after European exchange students arrived en masse, petitions flooded in to Hyang.
The reason was their conduct and attire.
Though they came from various countries, this wasn’t a significant issue for the students.
The universities they attended conducted all discourse and writing in Latin regardless of nationality.
Problems arose when these like-minded students who could communicate freely began moving in groups—ranging from four or five to ten or twenty.
Most of the exchange students came from noble families’ second or third sons, or were sons of prosperous merchants or wealthy farmers.
In simple terms, they came from families used to throwing their weight around in their local areas, so their behavior knew no bounds.
These university students’ notoriety was so great that in the history before Hyang’s intervention, 18th-century British nobles preferred sending their children on European tours rather than to universities.
During this period, a British noblewoman even wrote such a letter to her nephew:
-To my beloved nephew,
You will soon graduate from Eton School.
I hear you plan to attend Oxford after graduating from Eton.
If you enter university, that den of rogues, I shall not provide a single penny of support.
However, if you choose to tour Europe instead of attending university, I will provide generous travel expenses and later share part of your inheritance.
University students’ reputation was this poor.
When the university students saw Area 51 and its advanced academics upon arriving in the empire, they did genuinely throw themselves into their studies.
They attended classes with full dedication and pursued professors with questions about anything they didn’t understand.
Their enthusiasm was such that professors at the Engineering Academy, Mathematics Academy, and Medical Academy would tell their imperial students:
“Look at the exchange students from Europe! See how diligently they study!”
Though this dedicated, they were still vibrant youths in their twenties.
Moreover, their countries’ monarchs and nobles provided them with generous funding.
“Don’t worry about money! You have only one task! Learn the empire’s knowledge to the best of your ability and return!”
Thanks to their deep pockets and abundant energy, these students caused trouble in Seoul’s entertainment districts every holiday when classes weren’t in session.
The incidents began when courtesans rejected them.
“You’re dirty and smelly—we cannot receive you!”
When the accompanying interpreters relayed this, the students angrily forced their way into the establishments, only to receive beatings from the security guards and male servants.
Eventually, this reached Hyang’s ears, and he warned the students:
“Even to Our eyes, you are filthy and reek. Start with proper bathing. If you fail to comply, you will be immediately deported on the next trading vessel.”
Under Hyang’s warning, the students had to bathe diligently and wear clean clothes.
We haven’t even started, but if we’re deported, we’ll have to pay everything back!
No, forget repayment—who knows what punishment we’ll face!
However, their overflowing vigor continued causing incidents.
They would get drunk and try to manhandle courtesans, receiving beatings in return. Feeling wronged, they would gather their gangs and start brawls, ending up dragged to prison by constables.
“These fellows really… As they say, continued kindness makes one seem like an easy mark…”
Reading the reports with a deeply furrowed brow, Hyang soon issued orders:
“Select the five most poorly behaved students among those causing trouble and deport them immediately! No matter how excellent their grades, those with poor conduct shall be expelled without mercy! If no trading vessels are departing immediately, designate a special ship to send them, and charge them for the passage!”
“We shall comply with Your Majesty’s command!”
“Ah! Inform Our examiners in Europe of Our decree! These deportees are to fail automatically regardless of performance if they attempt the examination again!”
“Your words are most wise!”
The ministers unanimously bowed their heads in response to Hyang’s orders.
Though somewhat faded, they were still Neo-Confucian scholars. One of the most important principles in Neo-Confucianism was “The Doctrine of the Mean”.
-Even in enjoying music and dance with wine, there must be moderation and boundaries to observe.
To those with such mindsets, the exchange students’ behavior warranted every curse imaginable.
How can those claiming to pursue learning fail to maintain the Mean!
Thus, the five most troublesome students had to pack their bags.
Fortunately, there was a trading vessel departing at the right time.
Only after this commotion did the exchange students begin behaving properly.
Though they still visited entertainment districts on days without classes, they now confined themselves to drinking moderately and appropriate flirtation with courtesans.
However, petitions to Hyang remained numerous. The main subject of these petitions was the students’ clothing.
During this period, European men’s attire consisted of shirts and breeches as undergarments.
They wore hose, similar to modern stockings, over their breeches, securing them to their upper garments with ties.
Though these hose lacked elasticity, they clung to the legs. While some pairs were joined, many were split into separate legs.
This naturally exposed the breeches at the crotch, so nobles and wealthy men covered this area with a pouch called a codpiece.
The codpiece became problematic. Men exaggerated their masculinity by wearing oversized ones.
Additionally, the daggers that were everyday items for European men posed another issue.
Rather than wearing them at the waist near their dominant hand, they wore them at the navel or dangled them between their legs on cords.
Naturally, wearing daggers was prohibited upon entering the empire. However, since only the daggers were banned, students continued wearing their elaborately decorated dagger cords.
Imperial citizens reacted very negatively to these prominently protruding codpieces and ornate dagger cords dangling between their legs.
“Tsk! What indecent attire is that? They might as well go naked!”
“Are they dressed or undressed?”
“Oh my! Oh my, my!”
Elderly scholars and men clicked their tongues, while women pretended to cover their eyes while stealing glances.
Given this situation, petitions flooded in claiming “the Westerners’ indecent attire is damaging the empire’s fine customs and morals.”
Reading the petitions, Hyang held his forehead and muttered internally:
Earlier we worried about skinny pants with military uniforms, now it’s codpieces!
When new military uniforms were issued to soldiers, a trend of narrowing trouser legs spread among soldiers and officers trying to look stylish.
Though they wore appropriately fitted trousers for training and combat, while on leave they favored skin-tight trousers with cavalry boots to show off their sleek leg lines. Fortunately, the skin-tight trouser trend had somewhat subsided, but cavalry boots that made one look taller remained a “must-have item.”
“Whew~”
After organizing the situation with a long sigh, Hyang issued orders to his ministers:
“Inform the European professors and students that their current attire is incompatible with our customs and is hereby prohibited.”
“We shall comply with Your Majesty’s command!”
However, the students’ influence was somehow spreading through the empire.
‘Duke Eunpyeong’s attire is indecent!’
Such rumors began circulating within Gyeongbok Palace, eventually reaching Hyang’s ears.
“Seul-i? Hmm…”
After thinking briefly, Hyang ordered his Chief Royal Secretary:
“Summon Duke Eunpyeong. Tell him to meet me in the front courtyard of Geunjeong Hall.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Shortly after, Seul arrived at the front courtyard and performed a military salute to Hyang.
“Imperial father! You summoned me, Your Majesty?”
“Yes…”
Casually responding while examining Seul’s attire, Hyang held his forehead.
Skinny pants and codpiece combined! What horrible hybrid is this!
“Whew~”
After a long sigh, Hyang examined Seul’s attire again.
“Why are you wearing cavalry boots while sitting in the Ministry of Defense counting numbers?”
“I originally applied for cavalry, and they’re convenient for riding to and from office, Your Majesty.”
“Fine. Let’s set that aside. What’s with those trousers? Aren’t they uncomfortable?”
At Hyang’s question, Seul blushed slightly and answered:
“They’re a bit tight, Your Majesty.”
“Then why wear them?”
“Don’t they look stylish, Your Majesty?”
At Seul’s response, Hyang held his forehead.
15th century or 21st century!
After that internal cry, Hyang asked Seul again:
“Did your superiors say nothing?”
“No, Your Majesty.”
“Tsk!”
Hyang clicked his tongue at Seul’s response.
Of course they didn’t! He’s my son!
Finally, Hyang said one thing to Seul:
“Style is good, but loosen the fit a bit.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
“It’s bad for virility.”
“I shall loosen them immediately!”
“Don’t make them too loose as that will hinder movement—find a moderate fit.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Now return to your duties.”
“Yessir!”
Watching Seul hurry away, Hyang quietly muttered:
“Perhaps the dress code was too lax…”
The aftershocks of Hyang’s comments to Seul were considerable.
Everyone who had been wearing tight trousers like Seul began switching to looser-fitting ones.
Interestingly, it wasn’t just soldiers who had been wearing such tight trousers.
Young government officials and young men from scholar-official families had also worn tight trousers.
These men wearing tight trousers often deliberately tied the lower parts of their dopos behind them, exposing from the waist down.
All these men simultaneously returned to original trouser widths.
Consequently, seamstresses throughout Seoul began earning unexpected income.
Then an unexpected incident occurred.
The European professors and students who had been dragging their feet with various excuses despite Hyang’s order suddenly began changing their attire.
Among those changing their dress were monks. Their actions puzzled all the professors and students.
“Why you? You don’t even need to worry about such things, do you?”
“Mustn’t the body be healthy to devote oneself to research without tiring?”
“…Let’s say that’s true.”
Later hearing the report, Hyang gave a bitter smile.
“Just mention virility and…”
The aftershocks spread all the way to Europe.
Those who read the professors’ and students’ letters began demanding new, looser-fitting attire.
“Is there solid evidence for this?”
“The empire’s emperor himself said so, didn’t he?”
“Is that so? Then…”
The weight of Hyang’s words was immense to both Europeans and imperial citizens at the time. Consequently, European fashion began changing in a different direction from the history before Hyang’s intervention.