1895-1945 7d

8/7/2019 1895-1945 7D

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/1895-1945-7d 1/6

Modern Korean History (1895 - 1945)Korean EmpireEulmi Incident (1895)On October 8 1895 at Gyeongbokgung Palace, Sword bearing Japanese assassinsassassinated Korean Empress Queen Min. When they were sure they had killed her,they burned her corpse. This event triggered the Donghak Peasant Revolution, The firstSino Japanese War, Russo Japanese War, and the Japanese colonization of Korea.They tried first to have her removed from power, but due to Gojong's devotion to her,they failed. The assassins killed three women suspected for being Queen Min.Documents discovered in 2005 show that Japanese assassins dragged the Queenoutdoors and hacked her to death in public.

Proclamation of Empire (1897)After the assassination of his wife Empress Myeongseong, Emperor Gojong and theCrown Prince fled to the Russian legation in Korea in 1896. From 1895 to 1897 Koreaunderwent another major upheaval both at home and abroad. After the King's return,(1897) The Daehan-Jeguk, or the Greater Korean Empire was formed. It was an empirethat succeeded the Joseon Dynasty. In this time, Emperor Gojong oversaw the overallsuccessful modernization of Korea.

8/7/2019 1895-1945 7D


Gwangmu Reform (1897)In 1897, high pressure from overseas and the demands from theindependence association led public opinion convinced Gojong toreturn. From there he proclaimed the birth of the empire of Koreaand named the era Gwangmu. Koreaʼs new empire marked the

independence from China and the complete independence as anation. In 1897 a project was launched by the Gwangmugovernment which the goal was to modernize the landownershipsystem. American surveyors were hired. The reform was involvedwith another reform of the Korean land tax system. However, thereforms were interrupted by the Russo Japanese War (1904 -1905). Modern Structures built in the city were managed by thegovernment. At that time, the emperor allowed a joint venture withwestern businessmen. With that, Hanseong electric company wasfounded. Also an industrial revolution within Korea took place, withmodern textile weaving machines and technology schools

authorized by the government.

(1905) Taft - Katsura AgreementAnother treaty called the Taft - Katsura agreement was issued on July 17, 1905. Taftexpressed how Japan guiding Korea would lead to permanent peace in the Far East.These consist of notes taken during a conversation between Taft and Katsura. Theyconversed on peace on East Asia, the U.S.ʼs interests in the Philippines, and Japanʼscolonization of Korea.

(1905) The Treaty of Portsmouth1905 the Treaty of Portsmouth was signed ending the Russo - Japanese war to Japanand establishing Japanʼs influence over Korea. This treaty was signed by delegatesSergei Witte and Roman Rosen for Russia, and Komura Jutaro and Takahira Kogoro forJapan.

Yi Yong Ik- Chief ofthe Bureau ofCurrency.

Japan-Russia Treaty of Peace

8/7/2019 1895-1945 7D


(1905) Eulsa TreatyThis treaty was signed between the Empire of Japan and the Korean Empire, anddelegates of both sides met in Seoul. The unfairness of this treaty was definite, for therewere japanese troops placed strategically around Korea, and the imperial palace beingin the hands of Japanese troops. Korea appealed for support at the illegal and unfair

treaty to the major world powers of the time, however they refused to hear of it.

(1907) Delegation At The HagueAfter the 1905 Protectorate Treaty which demolished Koreaʼs status as an independentnation, Emperor Gojong secretly sent delegates to the Hague Peace Convention of1907 in an attempt to win back Koreaʼs independence.The delegates were latercaptured, however they did not lose heart, and spread the news in the newspapers.Consequently, the emperor was forced to retire by the Japanese and the crown Prince,Sunjong, succeeded his father. After retirement, the emperor was put in Deoksu Palacein house arrest by the Japanese. On August 22 1910, Korea was handed over to TheEmpire of Japan by the Japan - Korea Annexation Treaty. Gojong died on 21 January1919 in Deoksugung Palace. He was buried in Hongneung Imperial tomb with his wife.

(1910) Japan - Korean Annexation TreatyThis treaty was created by delegates of Japan and Korea. This treaty came into effecton August 29 1910 and is read as follows. “His Majesty the Emperor of Korea makesthe complete and permanent cession to His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. This day isknown as the Humiliation of Korea.

Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty

8/7/2019 1895-1945 7D


(1910 - 1945) Japanese

Imperial PeriodJapanese Migration and Land ConfiscationBy the fourth year, the number of Japanese in Korea reached170,000. Many high ranking koreans lost their sovereigntyovernight. By 1910 seven to eight percent of farmable Koreanland was controlled by the Japanese, and that number roserapidly, in 1916 it was 36.8%, 1920 is was 39.8%, 1932 it was52.7%. Koreans were also overtaxed and suffered whollyfrom famine.

Economy and ExploitationKorean economy changed significantly during Japanese Occupation. However, it is notdefinite whether the occupation of Japan helped or worsened Korean development andeconomy. Before the war Korea was a pre industrial country. However after the war,Seoul was a very advanced city in terms of most other east asian countries. However,most Koreans at the time could only access a primary school education, and althoughKoreans owned 64 percent of the small scale farms, japanese owned about 94 percentof the urban land.

Freedom Movement

# The March 1st Movement was inspired by President Woodrow Wilsonʼs speechin the Paris Peace conference. After suppression of the movement, the Japanesegovernment removed some of the harshest restrictions placed on the Koreans.However, anti japanese rallies continued and let to the strengthening of the Japanesemilitary rule. There have actually been reports of Japanese herding people into churchbuildings and lighting them on fire!

HQ of the Oriental DevelopmeCompany In Seoul

Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea

8/7/2019 1895-1945 7D


World War II

December 9 1941, Shortly After the attack on pearl harbor, The Provisional Governmentof the Republic of Korea declared war on the Empire of Japan and Nazi Germany. Thegovernment banded together various Guerrilla groups and tens of thousands

volunteered for the peopleʼs liberation army. Also, about 1,000 korean deserters fromthe Japanese Imperial Army also joined itʼs ranks too. When Japan surrendered after

the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Korea was free.

Cultural Genocide

The Japanese funded several Korean newspapers to contradict theword of a anti Japanese statement said by the main Koreannewspaper of the time. Hwangson Sinmun. The Japanese altered ordestroyed many Korean monuments such as rewriting Korean poems

to praise the Japanese Emperor, destroying Korean temples orpalaces and building Japanese buildings in their place, destroyingeighty five percent of all structure in Gyeongbokgung palace, andattempting to burn all Korean books. The new generation of Koreanswere brought up with barley any knowledge of their own heritage.

Japanese soldiers holding their flag

Maitraya Wood Figure

8/7/2019 1895-1945 7D


Education in Korea under Japanese rule

Before the occupation, Joseon style education was limited toprivate academies for aristocrats. However, during theoccupation and mostly after, Koreans were introduced to a

system of elementary middle and high school and groupclasses. Koreans were given at least some Knowledge abouttheir culture, an example being a textbook of Hangul.Education mostly insisted of Japanese History and adescription of the supposed glory of the Imperial House ofJapan. regardless of their religion, Korean students in Japanwere made to worship at Shinto shrines, bow before pictures ofthe emperor, and copy down and write again and again theImperial Rescript on Education.

Koreans in the Japanese MilitaryKoreans both enlisted and were conscripted into the Imperial Japanese army and akorean “voluntary” unit was formed. During World War II, American soldiers frequentlyencountered soldiers within the Imperial Japanese army. In prisoner of war camps, andother encounters with allied prisoners, it is noted that sometimes Koreans were far moreabusive than the Japanese. After the war, 23 Koreans were Sentenced to death withsevere war crimes compared to the 920 Japanese.

Keijo Imperial University