World History

1872

Japan debates invading Korea because Korea refuses to acknowledge an “emperor” in Japan.

1876

Japan forces Korea to sign the Kangwha treaty, opening Korea to foreign trade, MFN clause, extraterritoriality

1881

United States signs treaty of Friendship with Korea including unequal clauses; other western powers follow shortly

1885

Li Hongzhang of China and Itō Hirobumi of Japan sign the Li-Ito agreement, balancing their forces and influence in Korea

1894

Sino-Japanese War begins as clash between Japanese and Chinese forces in Seoul; Korean Tonghak rebellion (anti-foreign, populist) in full swing.

1895

Sino-Japanese War ends: China gives up influence in Korea, surrenders Taiwan and the concession to the Liaodong Penninsula, and pays an indemnity

Korea’s Queen Min assassinated by Japanese forces.

1896

Triple Intervention forces Japan to return Liaodong concession; subsequently taken by Russia, which is growing stronger in Manchuria

1902

First Korean immigrants arrive in Hawai’i

1904

Russo-Japanese war begins as conflict over status of Russian forces in Manchuria and Korea.

1905

US President Theodore Roosevelt negotiates the Treaty of Portsmouth, ending the Russo-Japanese war, and giving Japan the Liaodong concession, Russian railway rights in Manchuria and unchallenged influence over Korea.

Korea forced to sign a Treaty of Protectorate with Japan; Itō Hirobumi named Governor-General

1907

Korean delegation to the Hague refused hearing on the Treaty of Protectorate because according to international law Korea did not have standing.

Korean King Kojong abdicates; Korean army disbanded

1909

Governor-General Itō Hirobumi assassinated by An Chung-gun in Harbin

1910

Treaty of Annexation: Korea became part of the Japanese Empire

1918

WWI ends: Rice Riots in Japan

1919

April 1st Movement: Korean protests refusal of Versailles conference to hear self-determination request; thousands of Koreans killed; tens of thousands imprisoned.

1920s

Korean colony turned over to civilian administration. Agricultural promotion and cultural openness, educational expansion

1930s

Cultural Unity movement attempts to “Japanize” Korea, including name changes, religious reform, increased industrial development

1940s

WWII: Korean slave laborers used heavily in Japanese industry; sexual slaves (”comfort women”)

1945

Defeat of Japan; Korea divided into US and USSR zones of occupation

1948

Separate elections in Soviet and UN zones lead to establishement of separate states in North (DPRK, led by Kim Il Sung) and South Korea (ROK, led by Syngman Rhee)

1950

North Korean forces invade South

1953

Armistice ends active conflict; South Korea signs mutual defense treaty with US.