Korean Empire

Hwangudan in c. 1906.

After the Japanese victory of First Sino-Japanese War, Joseon won independence from the Qing dynasty. Proclaiming an empire was seen by many politicians as a good way to maintain independence. At the request of many officials, Gojong of Korea proclaimed the Korean Empire.[2] In 1897, Gojong was coronated in Hwangudan.[3] Gojong named the new empire Dahan and changed the regnal year to Gwangmu, 1897 being the first year of Gwangmu.[4] The proclamation of the empire led to diplomatic friction with Qing dynasty but by avoiding imperial titles in diplomatic correspondence, the conflict was resolved.[5] Gojong made the Definition of the country in 1898, which gave the whole authority to the Emperor.[3]

Even though all authority resided with the Emperor, popular influence in politics increased from the Joseon era. Many newspapers such as Tongnip Sinmun were established, promoting political awareness. Many organizations were established by people, including the Independence Club. Moreover, protests were not banned. People protested for reforms in Seoul.[6] The Independence Club tried to bring many reforms to the country to improve civil rights. The club established Junchuwon, which was a westernized senate of the Korean Empire.[7] In October 1898, the Independence Club made six requests to the emperor:[8]

1. Neither officials nor people shall depend upon foreign aid, but shall do their best to strengthen and uphold the imperial power.
2. All documents pertaining to foreign loans, the hiring of foreign soldiers, the granting of concessions, etc., in fact every document drawn up between the Korean government and a foreign party or firm, shall be signed and sealed by all the Ministers of State and the President of the Privy Council.
3. Important offenders shall be punished only after they have been given a public trial and ample opportunity to defend themselves.
4. To his Majesty shall belong the power to appoint Ministers, but in case a majority of the Cabinet disapproves of the Emperor's nominee he shall not be appointed.
5. All sources of revenue and methods of raising taxes shall be placed under the control of the Finance Department, no other department, officer or corporation being allowed to interfere therewith; and the annual estimates and balances shall be made public.
6. The existing laws and regulations shall be enforced without fear or favour.

The rival of the Independence Club, which was Sugu party, spread false rumors that the Independence Club was trying to depose Gojong of Korea and establish a Republic and make Bak Jeongyang President and Yun Chi-ho Vice President.[7] Because of the false rumor, the Independence Club was banned in December 1899. Despite popular protests, the Independence Club was not reformed.[6] The Hwanguk Club, which was the rival of the Independence Club rose to power, and some members of the Independence Club were arrested. The new cabinet was formed with many conservative politicians who did not want reforms.[7]

The Baby Riots of 1888 took place in the summer of 1888 in Joseon Korea.[9] Even though the Independence Club was banned, reform was not stopped. The Gwangmu Reform continued. However, the cabinet was radically changed. Officials such as Min Young-hwan, Han Kyu-seol, Yi Yong-ik, Shim Soon-taek, Yun Ung-nyeol, Shim Sang-hun, etc. led the reform, but most of these officials were conservative except Min Young-hwan, Han Kyu-seol, Yun Ung-nyeol. Yi Yong-ik and Shim Sang-hun were hated by the Independence Club.[7] These officials tried to reform the country conservatively.[10] New York Times reported that the new cabinet formed in early 1900s led by Yi Yong-ik was pro-Russian. There still were some ministers that were either pro-Japanese or pro-French. Pak Chesoon, who was the minister of foreign affair was pro-Japanese and Gwon Jung-hyeon, who was the minister of agriculture, and industry was pro-French. The cabinet tried to neutralize the Korean Empire.[11]

The new cabinet wanted to strengthen the power of the Emperor. This required more taxes from the citizens. Many minor taxes that were abolished by Gabo Reform were revived. These increased taxes enabled the Imperial Government to be rich enough to run the country.[10]

The new cabinet emphasized the independence of the country, leading to the enlargement of the Imperial Korean Army.[10] Colonel Dmitry Putyata and some officers were sent from Russia to Korea. However, Putyata had conflicts with Min Young-hwan, who was the former ambassador to Russia.[12] He returned to Russia on 26 November 1897 after assisting in the modernizing of the army.[13] In 1898, 10 more battalions were formed.[14] By sending troops, the Empire tried to protect its people. Officials were sent to Jiandao, where many Koreans lived.[10] By establishing an intelligence consisted of 200 men in 1903, stronger guards were accomplished.[15]

The new cabinet also wanted to make a modernized navy by buying ships. KIS Yangmu was the first ship to be bought, for 451,605 won.[15]

First Naval Ship of Korean Empire, KIS Yangmu

The government tried to industrialize the country by sending many students abroad to study industry. Many new technologies were brought in to Korea and many companies were established.[10] Formalizing land ownership records also enabled better land tax collection.[7]

These reforms were able to bring changes to the Korean Empire that made the country richer and stronger.

Tax revenue of Korean Empire during the Gwangmu Reform:[16]

However, the problem of the Korean Empire was its foreign affairs. Despite its official neutrality, the country had many polices favored Russia. Russian intervention was frequent. Many Korean natural resources were sent to Russia.[7]

What the real intention of Russia was for Korea is still a mystery. According to a dispatch sent from Shanghai, Russia tried to make the Korean Empire a protectorate of Russian Empire.[17] But, the Czar of Russian Empire, Nicholas II of Russia, did not wanted to colonize Korea. In 1901, Nicholas told Prince Henry of Prussia "I do not want to seize Korea but under no circumstances can I allow Japan to become firmly established there. That will be a casus belli."[18]

Before the Russo-Japanese War, Korea tried to show her neutrality to different Western countries. On 27 January 1904, Russia, France, Germany, and England formally commended Korea's declaration of neutrality.[19]

On August 22, 1904, the first treaty between Japan and Korea, known as First Japan–Korea Convention, was signed. This allowed the creation of a Japanese garrison in Korea, the Japanese Korean Army.[20] The Taft–Katsura Agreement (also known as the Taft–Katsura Memorandum) was issued on July 17, 1905. It was not actually a secret pact or agreement between the United States and Japan, but rather a set of notes regarding discussions on U.S.-Japanese relations between members of the governments of the United States and Japan.[21] The Japanese Prime Minister Taro Katsura used the opportunity presented by Secretary of War William Howard Taft's stopover in Tokyo to extract a statement from Taft on the Korean question, in his capacity as a representative of the Roosevelt Administration.[22] Taft expressed in the Memorandum that a suzerain relationship with Japan guiding Korea would "contribute to permanent peace in the Far East".[22]

In September 1905, Russia and Japan signed the Treaty of Portsmouth, ending the Russo-Japanese War and firmly establishing Japan's influence in Korea. Secret diplomatic contacts were sent by the Gwangmu Emperor in the fall of 1905 to entities outside of Korea presenting Korea's desperate case to preserve their sovereignty, as normal diplomatic channels were no longer an option, due to the constant surveillance by the Japanese.[23]

Until 1905, the Korean Empire was advancing due to reforms. However, things changed after the Eulsa Treaty. By the Taft–Katsura agreement, America and Japan gave mutual consent to the American colonization of Philippines and the Japanese colonization of Korea. Also through many treaties, Japan isolated Korea. Gojong of Korea was opposed to the Eulsa Treaty, but negotiations proceeded without him. There were eight ministers in the conference room. Prime Minister Han Kyu-seol, Minister of Army Yi Geun-taek, Minister of Interior Yi Ji-yong, Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Je-sun, Minister of Agriculture, Commerce and Industry Gwon Jung-hyeon, Minister of Finance Min Yeong-gi, and Minister of Justice Yi Ha-yeong were the Korean ministers in the conference room. Except for Han Kyu-seol, Min Yeoung-gi, and Yi Ha-young, all the ministers agreed with the treaty, which established a Japanese protectorate over Korea.[24] After the treaty was signed, the Waebu, which was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korean Empire, was dissolved. All the foreign affairs of the Korean Empire were handled by Tokyo.[25] Many embassies were recalled from Korea due to the treaty. On 1 February 1906, Itō Hirobumi, who led the Japanese treaty negotiations, became the first Japanese Resident-General of Korea.[26]

The Eulsa Treaty was deeply unpopular. Some, such as Min Young-hwan, committed suicide.[27] Many joined righteous armies and some even tried unsuccessfully assassinate the five Korean ministers who consented to the treaty.[28]

Emperor Gojong tried to show the unfairness of the Eulsa Treaty to the world. He sent many messages to monarchs of European countries such as Wilhelm II, George V, Nicholas II etc.[29] He sent Hulbert to repudiate the treaty.[30] In June 1906, Nicholas II secretly sent Gojong an invitation for the Hague Convention of 1907. He sent emissaries to the Hague in order to repudiate the Eulsa treaty. However, the emissaries were not accorded recognition.[31] The houses of Ye Wanyong were burned by the people. The Japanese Korean Army intervened to suppress public discontent. Forces of General Hasegawa garrisoned the palace. Some regiments of Imperial Korean Army was disarmed. The Pyeongyang Jinwidae, which was the elite unit of Imperial Korean Army, was disarmed.[32] These acts against the terms of the treaty led to the abdication of Gojong and Sunjong replaced him on 19 July 1907.[31]

State funeral of Min Young-hwan who committed suicide in protest of the Eulsa Treaty

After Sunjong became emperor, the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907 was signed. Under the treaty, more Japanese were employed in the Korean Government and started to intervene in Korean affairs more. Most of the Imperial Korean Army was dissolved.[33] These Japanese interventions fueled the righteous armies, local peasant militias fighting against the Japanese. These righteous armies fought against Japan with little success.[34] From 1909, the Japanese suppressed all of the righteous armies. Many members of the righteous armies fled to Manchuria or the rest of China to join the Independence Army.[35] Under Terauchi Masatake, Japan got ready to annex Korea. By the treaty of 22 August 1910, Korean Empire was annexed. The annexation was announced on 29 August 1910.[36]

It was composed of the Imperial Korean Army, and the Imperial Korean Navy.

Succeeding the former Joseon Army and Navy, the Gwangmu Reform reorganized the military to a modern Western-style military. Unlike in the Joseon Dynasty, service was voluntary. It had a size of about 30,000, including soldiers and cadets.

The military disbanded on August 1, 1907, due to the Japan-Korea Treaty of 1907. Major Park Seung-hwan protested by committing suicide, and it sparked a revolt led by former imperial soldiers leading to the battle at Namdaemun Gate. Emperor Sunjong incorporated the remaining soldiers Imperial Guards until 1910, while others formed the foundations of the Righteous armies.

• Keltie, J.S., ed. (1900). The Statesman's Year Book: Statistical and Historical Annual of the States of the World for the Year 1900. New York: MacMillan.
• Dong-no Kim, John B. Duncan, Do-hyung Kim (2006), Reform and Modernity in the Taehan Empire (Yonsei Korean Studies Series No. 2), Seoul: Jimoondang Publishing Company
  • Jae-gon Cho, The Industrial Promotion Policy and Commercial Structure of the Taehan Empire.
• Kim, Ki-Seok (Summer 2006). "Emperor Gwangmu's Diplomatic Struggles to Protect His Sovereignty before and after 1905". Korea Journal.
• Nahm, Andrew (October 1985). "The impact of the Taft-Katsura Memorandum on Korea: A reassessment". Korea Journal.
• Pratt, Keith L., Richard Rutt, and James Hoare. (1999). Korea: a historical and cultural dictionary, Richmond: Curzon Press. ISBN 9780700704637; ISBN 9780700704644; OCLC 245844259
• The Special Committee for the Virtual Museum of Korean History (2009), Living in Joseon Part 3: The Virtual Museum of Korean History-11, Paju: Sakyejul Publishing Ltd.
• Yi, Ha-kyoung (2012). "대한제국 시기 군주권 강화와 민권 확대 논의의 전개: 주권론을 중심으로; Power of King and the People in the Daehan Empire: Focusing on the Theory of Sovereignty" (PDF). Seoul National University: S-Space – via 서울대학교 한국정치연구소.
• Hulbert, Homer (1906). The Passing of Korea.
• Hulbert, Homer B. (1904). The Korea Review.