Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the earlier treaties between Japan and Korea in 1905, see Japan–Korea Agreement of April 1905 and Japan–Korea Agreement of August 1905.

Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905
The treaty on display
DraftedNovember 9, 1905; 118 years ago (1905-11-09)
SignedNovember 17, 1905; 118 years ago (1905-11-17)
LocationJungmyeongjeon Hall, Hanseong, Korea
EffectiveNovember 17, 1905; 118 years ago (1905-11-17)
Signatories
Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905
Japanese name
Kanji第二次日韓協約
Hiraganaだいにじにっかんきょうやく
Korean name
Hangul을사조약
Hanja乙巳條約
Alternative Korean name
Hangul제2차 한일협약
Hanja第二次韓日協約
Alternative Korean name
Hangul을사늑약
Hanja乙巳勒約

The Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905, also known as the Eulsa Treaty, Eulsa Unwilling Treaty or Japan–Korea Protectorate Treaty, was made between the Empire of Japan and the Korean Empire in 1905. Negotiations were concluded on November 17, 1905.[1] The treaty deprived Korea of its diplomatic sovereignty and made Korea a protectorate of Imperial Japan. It resulted from Imperial Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905.[2]

Names

In the metonymy Eulsa Treaty,[3] the word Eulsa or Ulsa derives the Sexagenary Cycle's 42nd year of the Korean calendar, in which the treaty was signed.[4] The treaty is identified by several names including Second Japan–Korea Convention (Japanese: 第二次日韓協約, Korean: 제2차 한일협약; Hanja: 二次韓日協約),[5] Eulsa Restriction Treaty (Korean: 을사늑약, 乙巳勒約),[5] Eulsa Protection Treaty (Japanese: 乙巳保護条約, Korean: 을사보호조약),[citation needed] and Korea Protection Treaty (Japanese: 韓国保護条約).[citation needed]

Background

Following Imperial Japan's victory in the

Korean Peninsula
.

Delegates of both Empires met in Seoul to resolve differences in matters pertaining to Korea's future foreign policy; however, with the Korean Imperial palace under occupation by Japanese troops, and the Imperial Japanese Army stationed at strategic locations throughout Korea, the Korean side was at a distinct disadvantage in the discussions.

Formation of treaty

Jungmyeongjeon Hall at Deoksugung, where the treaty was signed

On 9 November 1905, following the

Gojong
, Emperor of Korea, asking him to sign the treaty. On 15 November 1905, he ordered Japanese troops to encircle the Korean imperial palace and threatened the emperor in order to force him to agree to the treaty.

On 17 November 1905, Ito and Japanese Field Marshal

Deoksu Palace, to persuade Gojong to agree, but he refused. Ito pressured the cabinet with the implied, and later stated, threat of bodily harm, to sign the treaty.[6] According to 한계옥 (Han-Gyeok), Korean prime minister Han Gyu-seol disagreed, shouting loudly. Ito ordered the guards to lock him in a room and said if he continued screaming, they could kill him.[7] The Korean cabinet signed an agreement that had been prepared by Ito in the Jungmyeongjeon. The Agreement gave Imperial Japan complete responsibility for Korea's foreign affairs,[8]
and placed all trade through Korean ports under Imperial Japanese supervision.

Treaty provisions

This treaty deprived Korea of its diplomatic sovereignty,[9][10][11] in effect making Korea a protectorate of Imperial Japan.[12] As a consequence, the Korean Empire had to close its diplomatic representations abroad, including its short-lived legation in Beijing,[13] and its legation in Washington, D.C.

The provisions of the treaty took effect on November 17, 1905, and it laid the foundation for the

annexation of Korea in 1910.[14]

The treaty was deemed to have gone into effect after it received the signature of five Korean ministers:

These five were later named the "Five Eulsa Traitors".

Emperor Gojong
of Korea did not assent or sign the treaty. Other officials who disputed the treaty included:

Controversy

Gojong
's analysis of the "treaty of 1905"

Emperor Gojong sent personal letters to major heads of state to appeal for their support against the illegal signing.[15] As of February 21, 1908, he had sent 17 letters bearing his imperial seal, to the following eight heads of state:[citation needed
]

Wilhelm II of Germany
.

In 1907, Emperor Gojong sent three secret emissaries to the

second international Hague Peace Convention to protest the unfairness of the Eulsa Treaty. But the great powers of the world refused to allow Korea to take part in the conference
.

Not only the Emperor but other Koreans protested against the Treaty.

righteous armies
. They were called "Eulsa Euibyeong" (을사의병, 乙巳義兵) meaning "Righteous army against Eulsa Treaty".

After completing the treaty, Emperor Gojong tried to let the world know the unfairness of the treaty, including sending a special envoy to The Hague. This directly contributed to the forced retirement of King Gojong.

Rescission

Gojong's declaration of rescission

Thereafter, Gojong tried to inform the international community of the injustice of the 2nd Korea-Japan Agreement, but according to the logic of the international situation at the time, Gojong's secrets were not effective. Gojong's declaration of Rescission in the Eulsa Treaty had the following, but it was not recognized internationally:

This treaty, later, was confirmed to be "already

Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea concluded in 1965.[16]

In a joint statement on June 23, 2005, officials of South Korea and North Korea reiterated their stance that the Eulsa treaty is null and void on a claim of coercion by the Japanese.

As of 2010, South Korea was seizing property and other assets from the descendants of people who have been identified as pro-Japanese collaborators (Chinilpa) at the time of the treaty.[17]

Aftermath

After the treaty, Japanese influence on Korea dramatically increased. All of the diplomatic mission of Korea was disestablished. All of the foreign relation of Korea was administered by a Japanese Resident-General. Itō Hirobumi was appointed as the first Resident-General.[18]

Residence of Resident-General in Jung District, Seoul

See also

References

  1. ^ Korean Mission to the Conference on the Limitation of Armament, Washington, DC, 1921–1922. (1922). Korea's Appeal , p. 35, at Google Books; excerpt, "Alleged Treaty, dated November 17, 1905."
  2. ^ Clare, Israel et al. (1910). Library of universal history and popular science, p. 4732., p. 4732, at Google Books
  3. ^ Pak, Chʻi-yŏng. (2000).Korea and the United Nations, p. 6, at Google Books; excerpt, "... as a first step towards the final annexation of Korea in 1910, Japan forced the Korean king, Kojong, to accept the protectorate treaty (known as the Ulsa Protectorate Treaty) after Japan had defeated Russia in the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), following its victory in the Sino-Japanese War (1904–1995)"; Cordier, Henri et al. (1905). "Traité entre le Japon et la Corée," Revue internationale de Sinologie , p. 633, at Google Books
  4. ^ Kodansha encyclopedia of Japan, Vol 4, 1983, p. 289; "Ulsa is the designation in the sexagenary cycle for the year corresponding to 1905"
  5. ^ a b 을사조약 (in Korean). Naver/Doosan Encyclopedia.
  6. Fleming H. Revell Company
    .
  7. ISBN 89-87811-05-0
  8. ^ United States. Dept. of State. (1919). Catalogue of treaties: 1814–1918, p. 273, at Google Books
  9. ^ "Deoksu Jungmyeongjeon". June 23, 2008. Retrieved May 4, 2009.
  10. ISBN 9780802091956
    .
  11. ^ "Independence leader Kim Koo". April 28, 2008. Retrieved May 4, 2009.
  12. ^ The history of Korea, pp. 461–62, Homer Hulbert
  13. ^ Sungwook Son (2016), "Qing-Joseon Relations as Viewed from Joseon's Legation in the Qing Dynasty －from 'Hoidonggwan(會同館)' to Korean Legation in Beijing", 동국사학
  14. ^ Carnegie Endowment (1921). Pamphlet 43: Korea, Treaties and Agreements, p. vii, at Google Books
  15. ^ a b Lee Hang-bok. "The King's Letter," English JoongAng Daily. September 22, 2009.
  16. ^ "Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea". "It is confirmed that all treaties or agreements concluded between the Empire of Japan and the Empire of Korea on or before August 22, 1910 are already null and void."
  17. telegraph.co.uk
    .
  18. ^ 사료로 본 한국사. "을사늑약(을사조약, 제2차 한일협약)".

Bibliography

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