Carlo Rossetti (18 October 1876 – 1948) was an Italian naval officer, diplomat, geographer, cartographer, and photographer. He served as the second Italian consul to the Korean Empire, holding the post from November 1902 to May 1903.
Early Life and Naval Career
Rossetti was born in Turin, Italy, in 1876. At the age of 13, he enrolled in the Naval Academy of Livorno, graduating four years later as a midshipman. He served as a lieutenant in the Italian Royal Navy before transitioning to diplomatic service.
Diplomatic Mission to Korea
Rossetti was appointed the second Italian consul to Korea, succeeding the first Italian consul. He was stationed in Seoul from November 1902 to May 1903, a brief tenure of approximately eight months. During his time in Korea, he served at the court of King Gojong (also spelled Kojong) of the Korean Empire.
Photographic Work
While in Korea, Rossetti produced a significant collection of photographs depicting Korean people, landscapes, and daily life. According to Lucio Izzo, director of the Italian Cultural Institute, these were the first such photographs of Korea produced by a Westerner. His photographic work has been the subject of exhibitions, including one organized by the Italian Cultural Institute in Seoul, and has been studied by historians for its documentation of late Joseon-era Korea.
Later Career
After returning to Italy in 1904, Rossetti wrote and lectured about his experiences in Korea. He later served as a minister plenipotentiary in Italian colonies, holding full powers from the King of Italy to negotiate and sign international treaties. He left the navy at the rank of ship captain at age 32.
Publications
- Corea e coreani: impressioni e ricerche sull'impero del Gran Han (Korea and Koreans: Impressions and Research on the Empire of the Great Han), Bergamo: Istituto d'arti grafiche, 1904–1905.
- Lettere dalla Corea: Cenni sulle istituzioni ed i commerci di quell'impero (Letters from Korea: Notes on the Institutions and Commerce of That Empire), published under the pseudonym "Canavis," Livorno: R. Giusti, 1904.
