Korean invasion of Manchuria

From the 1860s, Koreans from Hamgyong Province moved to Jiandao ("Gando") to escape famine.[1] In 1885 and 1887, the Qing and Joseon held conferences on their borders. The Qing wanted to expel the Koreans living in Jiandao. However, these conferences between the two governments failed to resolve the issue of Jiandao.[2]

The struggle over Jiandao intensified after the Korean Empire proclamation. Some newspapers, such as Jeguk Sinmun and Tongnip Sinmun, returned to the issue of people and territory.[1] Cho Chon-woo, an observer in North Hamgyung Province, reported that since the Tomun River flowed past Jeung Mountain and into the Songhua River, the area east of the Tomun River and south of Jeung Mountain belonged to Korea.[3]

When Russian troops captured Manchuria during the Boxer Rebellion, Korea saw this as an opportunity to settle its border disputes with the Qing. South of the Tumen River, Korea established Jinwidae. A police force.[4] Korea sent a battalion of 150 soldiers to Jongseung, 200 to Musan County, 200 to Hoeryong, 100 more to Jongseung, 100 to Onsong County and 50 to Kyongwon County. Jinwidae's border defenses were so tight that the Qing officials could not control the Koreans. When police forces were stationed in Jiandao, the purpose of Jinwidae was changed to border protection.[5]

The police station was established in March 1901. Two hundred policemen were stationed in Jiandao. The police station divided Jiandao into five subdivisions: North Jiandao, Jongseong Jiandao, Hoeryong Jiandao, Musan Jiandao, and Gyeongwon Jiandao.[6] In 1902, Korea sent Yi Bum-yun to Jiandao as an observer to strengthen its control over the area.[1]

Realizing it was impossible to protect the Koreans without force, Yi raised a volunteer army.[7] From September 1903, Yi began to build up an armed force, digging extensive trenches between Bongcheon (now Shenyang), Manchuria, Jilin, and Jiandao. He employed Russian instructors to train the army and bought 500 rifles from Seoul.[8] The Korean government supported Yi's volunteer army because of Gojong's desire to control Jiandao and Yi Yong-ik's support.[9] According to a Qing official, the violence of the Korean army was as follows. On 4 September 1903, 1,000 Korean soldiers crossed the Yalu River. These Korean soldiers burned and looted Chinese territory across the Yalu River. On 2 October 1903, 700-800 Korean soldiers broke into a county office in Linjiang.[10] To avoid further conflict with China, the Korean government summoned Yi in 1904.[7] Yi refused to obey the Korean government's order and instead led his troops to Primorsky Krai, where he joined many Korean independence activists such as Choe Jae-hyeong and An Jung-geun.[11]

After the invasion, the Koreans began to recognize Jiandao as Korean territory. The Korean Daily News referred to Jiandao as Korean territory. The 1907 map of Korea included Jiandao as Korean territory. However, when Japan began interfering in the Manchuria border, the Korean Daily News changed its position. Professor Yi Tae-jin of Seoul University claimed that the Koreans regarded the Japanese interference as an invasion because the Japanese and Russians were fighting in the Russo-Japanese War. The dispute ended with the Gando Convention, signed by Japan.[12] With the Gando Convention, China claimed Jiandao again.[7]

Ryu, Byeong-ho (2002). "在滿韓人의 國籍問題 硏究(1881~1911) = (A)study on the issues of nationality concerning Korean people in Manchu territory, 1881-1911". 중앙대학교 대학원: 사학과 한국사전공 2002 – via RISS.

Yi, Myeong-jong (2013). "대한제국기 간도영토론의 등장과 종식". 한양대학교 동아시아문화연구소 – via KCI.

• Boxer Rebellion
• Military of the Korean Empire
  • Jinwidae
• Gando