Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910
The Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910, also known as the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty, was made by representatives of the Empire of Japan and the Korean Empire on 22 August 1910.[1] In this treaty, Japan formally annexed Korea following the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905 (by which Korea became a protectorate of Japan) and the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907 (by which Korea was deprived of the administration of internal affairs).
For the 1905 treaty, see Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905. For the 1907 treaty, see Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907.Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty of 1910
Annexation treaty
Annexation of the Korean Empire by the Empire of Japan
August 22, 1910
August 29, 1910
August 15, 1945, de facto September 2, 1945
June 22, 1965
- Ye Wanyong
(Prime Minister of the Korean Empire) - Count Terauchi Masatake
(Resident General of Korea; Empire of Japan)
Japan
Korea
韓国併合ニ関スル条約 or 日韓併合条約
かんこくへいごうにかんするじょうやく or にっかんへいごうじょうやく
kankoku heigō ni kansuru jōyaku or nikkan heigō jōyaku
kankoku heigō ni kansuru jōyaku or nikkan heigō jōyaku
한일병합조약
(한일합방조약, 한일합방늑약)
韓日倂合條約
(韓日合邦條約, 韓日合邦勒約)
Hanil Byeonghap Joyak
(Hanil Hapbang Joyak, Hanil Hapbang Neugyak)
Hanil Byeonghap Joyak
(Hanil Hapbang Joyak, Hanil Hapbang Neugyak)
Japanese commentators predicted that Koreans would easily assimilate into the Japanese Empire.[1]
In 1965, the Treaty of Basic Relations between South Korea and Japan confirmed this treaty is "already null and void".[2]
History[edit]
The treaty was proclaimed to the public (and became effective) on 29 August 1910, officially starting the period of Japanese rule in Korea. The treaty had eight articles, the first being: "His Majesty the Emperor of Korea makes the complete and permanent cession to His Majesty the Emperor of Japan of all rights of sovereignty over the whole of Korea".
Gojong of the Korean Empire later called the treaty a neugyak (늑약 勒約).[3] The alternative term used in lieu of joyak (조약 條約) implies the Koreans were coerced into accepting the treaty by the Japanese. Gyeongsul Gukchi (경술국치 庚戌國恥, National humiliation of the year of Gyeongsul)" and Gukchi-il (국치일 國恥日, National humiliation day)" are alternative terms for the year and date the treaty was signed, respectively.[4]
The United Kingdom had already acquiesced to the annexation of Korea by Japan, via the British connection to Imperial Japan via the Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1902 and 1905; and the United States had also sanctioned the annexation, as per the Taft-Katsura Agreement.
Japanese annexation of Korea[edit]
The Empire of Japan had already confirmed the policy of Annexation at the Cabinet Meeting on 6 July 1909. However, it was left only to minimize side effects and obtain an international justification. The Japanese imperial government was preparing a scenario for a "merger petition" to Shigemaru Sugiyama, an advisor of the Iljinhoe. Prior to this, Song Byeong-jun went to the Empire of Japan in February 1909 and held a bargaining for the country. Many times, Itō Hirobumi urged a "merger", but when work was delayed due to the Japanese imperial armed forces plan, he went directly to the Empire of Japan and negotiated a "merger" against the Japanese imperial Prime Minister Katsura Tarō and other members of the Japanese imperial Choya.
If Song Byeong-jun's cabinet is established, not only is there a risk of retaliation, but also Ye Wanyong, fearing that the main role of the annexation will be taken away, said, "Even if the current cabinet collapses, a more pro-Japanese cabinet cannot come out." and voluntarily informed the Ministry of Knowledge Economy that it was possible.
In directing such a scenario, the Empire of Japan gradually decided that the period of “Annexation” was ripening, and promoted Shigemaru to make a “joining petition” using Lee Yong-gu and Song Byeong-jun. [5]
Activism[edit]
On 28 August 2007, regarding the General Power of Attorney by Sunjong, Korean newspaper Dong-a Ilbo reported that Korean monarchs did not sign in the official documents with their real names, traditionally, but the Korean Emperor was forced by Japan to follow a new custom to sign with his real name, which originated from the Western Hemisphere. It mentioned Sunjong's signature may be compulsory.[11]
On 23 June 2010, 75 South Korean congressmen suggested the legal nullification of the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty to the Prime Minister Naoto Kan.[12]
On 6 July 2010, Korean and Japanese progressive Christian groups gathered in Tokyo's Korean YMCA chapter and jointly declared that the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty was unjustified.[13]
On 28 July 2010, around 1000 intellectuals in Korea and Japan issued a joint statement that the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty was never valid in the first place.[14]