During the late 18th to late 19th centuries Western governments sought to intervene in and influence the
political and economic fortunes of Asian countries. Many of these powerful nations used terms such as
“protectorate” or “sphere of influence” to keep from having to use direct military conflict with other
powerful Western nations, and to minimize the responsibility of colonization (remember Africa, guys!).
In Japan, the newly modernized Meiji government sought to join these colonizing efforts and began to
entertain the idea of creating their own “sphere of influence” over weaker nations.
During the end of the 19th century, Korea, was under the sphere of influence of China's Qing Dynasty.
Japan, however, had a different vision for Korea and sought to separate Korea from Chinese influence and
establish Korea as a Japanese satellite. Those in favor also saw the issue as an opportunity to find
meaningful employment for the thousands of out-of-work samurai, who had lost most of their income
and social standing in the new Meiji socioeconomic order. Further, the acquisition of Korea would
provide both a foothold on the Asian continent for Japanese expansion, as well as a rich source of raw
materials for Japanese industry.
On 27 February 1876, the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1876 was signed. It was designed to open up Korea to
Japanese trade. It also ended Korea's status as a protectorate of China, forced open three Korean ports to
Japanese trade, and granted extraterritorial rights to Japanese citizens. (Extraterritoriality is the state of
being exempted from local laws) As a result of the treaty, Japanese merchants came to Busan (a large
city), which became a center for foreign trade.
Russia & Japan Clash over Korea
The Russo-Japanese War (8 February 1904 – 5 September 1905) was "the first great war of the 20th
century."It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan over
Manchuria (a region of China) and Korea.
Although Japan had trade rights to Korea, Russia sought a warm water port on the Pacific Ocean, for their
navy as well as for maritime trade. Vladivostok, Russia was only operational Pacific coast port that Russia
owned, and was only useful during the summer season. Port Arthur, on the Korean peninsula, however,
was operational all year.
Japan and Russia attempted diplomatic talks, but they quickly broke down, resulting in war. The final
outcome saw the Japanese military gaining victory over the Russian forces, which shocked the world.
Over time, the consequences of these battles would transform the balance of power in East Asia, resulting
in a reassessment of Japan's recent entry onto the world stage.
During the Russo-Japanese War, a treaty called the Korean-Japanese Protocol was signed (1904). This
agreement gave Japan the right to station its troops on the Korean peninsula, and to gradually strip of
Korea's rights to carry out an independent diplomacy.
Japan used its victory over Russia to annex Korea in 1910, having already installed a puppet leader. Emperor
Sunjong was the last 'united' Korean leader and the last emperor in a dynasty stretching back 500 years.
By the time he died in 1926 the Japanese were
completely in control and attempting to undermine
Korea's unique cultural identity. The Korean language
and customs were suppressed and at one point Tokyo
even tried to enforce a law stating that all second names
should be Japanese.
When the Japanese empire was dismantled at the end of
World War Two, Korea fell victim to the Cold War. It
was divided into two spheres of influence along the 38th
parallel.
The Americans controlled south of the line - the
Russians installed a communist regime in the north,
later surrendering their influence to China.
In 1950 the North launched a surprise attack across the 38th parallel and quickly took most of the South. The
United Nations then backed what it called a "police action" to repulse the advance and the Korean War, which
would last for three years, had begun.
Most troops on the United Nations side were American, but 90,000 British soldiers were involved in fighting
the Chinese Red Army and more than 1,000 were killed, many of them who were drafted into the military – not
participants by choice.
By the time an armistice was signed in July 1953, 2.5 million people had died. The line of division remained
where it had started - at the 38th parallel.
After the war South Korea's economy prospered under a series of capitalist dictatorships and the country
eventually became a democracy.
North Korea, on the other hand, remains an economic basket case and a police state which has been ruled by the
same family for three generations. First came Kim Il-Sung, then his son Kim Jong-Il, and now the grandson
Kim Jong-Un.
The legacy of that dark century has left South Korea's security guaranteed by an American defense treaty, and
North Korea tied to a military pact with China in the event of it being attacked.