Draft Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese Wars: Foreign Powers Making the Korean Peninsula their Battleground

Title	The Great Game in the Korean Peninsula: Rivalry among China, Japan, and Russia

1차 원고

Sino-Japanese War and the Donghak Peasant Movement

When Japan began to expand its influence over the Korean Peninsula following the signing of the Treaty of Ganghwa (Jo-Il suho jogyu), the Qing dynasty in China began to intervene in the political and diplomatic affairs of the Joseon kingdom by having its army stationed in Joseon on the pretext of supressing the Mutiny of 1882. Amid the Sino-Japanese competition over the peninsula, Korean peasants who were suffering from government corruption and heavy taxe burdens initiated an uprising to ‘repel foreign powers and correct errored politics’—the Donghak Peasant Movement.

The Joseon government requested the Qing court to send troops to suppress the peasant army. When Qing sent the troops to Korea, the Japanese also sent its troops so that both armies arrived in Korea almost at the same time. The Joseon government, surprised by the unexpected arrival of the Japanese troops, concluded the Jeonju Accord (Jeonju Hwayak) to answer some of the peasants’ demands and called both the Chinese and Japanese armies to withdraw simultaneously.

The Japanese rejected Joseon’s request for withdrawal. Instead, it invaded the Gyeongbokgung Palace for an excuse of "domestic reform" and started First Sino-Japanese War by taking an assault on the Qing army without warning. Korean Peninsula turned into a battlefield of its neighbours and the Korean people suffered greatly from the war. In advantage from the pre-emptive strike, Japan intensified its domestic intervention in Joseon. The disbanded peasant army united again to fight the Japanese, but fell helplessly before the modern weapons of the Japanese army. This war between Qing and Japan was also a war between the Japanese troops and the Donghak peasant forces.

As a result of Japan’s victory in 1895, Treaty of Shimonoseki was concluded between Qing China and Japan. The Japanese won a considerable amount of monetary compensation, along with the territories of Liaodong Peninsula and Taiwan as well as its dominance over Joseon kingdom. The traditional, Sino-centric interstate order of East Asia collapsed following the Sino-Japanese war, and Qing China was reduced to a semi-colony in encroachment of imperial powers.

Declaration of the Korean Empire

Japan’s victory triggered Russia into action. Russia, allied with Germany and France, pressured Japan to return the Liaodong Peninsula to Qing China. The Korean King Gojong who witnessed this, pursued a pro-Russian policy to fend off the Japanese. In retaliation, Japan sent ronins and soldiers to murder Queen Min of Joseon (Ulmi sabyeon) in 1895 and imposed a coercive policies. While series of anti-Japanese military campaigns sparked throughout the Joseon kingdom, King Gojong escaped the central palace to the Russian legation, inviting more Russian influence in the Korean Peninsula.

A year after his escape, King Gojong made his return to Gyeongungung Palace and proclaimed the imperial status for his country, with the intention of freeing his country from the Chinese, Japanese, and Russian interferences. To build a modern nation, the new empire implemented the Gwangmu Reforms in order to reinforce its national defence, promote education, commerce and industry, and establish a modern system of land ownership. Despite its efforts, Korea’s goal for autonomy was frustrated by yet another war, the Russo-Japanese War.

Result of Russo-Japanese War

After the Sino-Japanese War, Russia gained authorization from the Qing to construct railways and lease Lu Xun Arbor (Port Arthur). In addition, the Russian troops sent to suppress the Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901) was still stationed around the Yalu River. Japan, supported by Britain and the US, raided the Russian navy moored at Incheon Port in February 1904. This erupted the Russo-Japanese War. Contrary to the Western powers’ belief, Japan captured Lu Xun Arbor in early 1905 and defeated the Russian Baltic fleet at the East Sea. As a result, the Treaty of Portsmouth was concluded between Japan and Russia in September 1905. The treaty granted Japan the right to dominate the Korean Peninsula and to construct railways in southern Manchuria. The Russo-Japanese War also changed the domestic situation in Japan and Russia. In Japan, the victory accelerated spread militarism. In Russia, popular uprisings against the war that impoverished common peoples, eventually led to the Russian revolution. Furthermore, Russia’s focus pivoted to Central Asia and the Balkans, escalating the tension that would eventually erupt as World War I. Japan as the victor of the Russo-Japanese War threatened Emperor Gojong’s government into concluding the Eulsa Treaty in 1905, spurring colonization of the Korean peninsula. The Treaty ultimately robbed Korea’s national sovereignty in 1910.

감수본

Three Empires Struggle for Korea

When Japan began to expand its influence over the Korean Peninsula following the signing of the Treaty of Ganghwa, the Qing dynasty in China began to intervene in the political and diplomatic affairs of the Joseon kingdom by having its army stationed in Joseon on the pretext of supressing the Mutiny of 1882. Amid the Sino-Japanese competition over the peninsula, Korean peasants who were suffering from government corruption and heavy tax-burdens initiated an uprising to ‘repel foreign powers and correct erroneous politics’— the Donghak Peasant Movement.

The Joseon government requested the Qing court to send troops to suppress the peasant army. When Qing sent the troops to Korea, the Japanese also sent its troops “to protect its citizens”, so that both armies arrived in Korea almost at the same time. The Joseon government, surprised by the unexpected arrival of the Japanese troops, concluded the Jeonju Accord to answer some of the peasants’ demands and called both the Chinese and Japanese armies to withdraw simultaneously.

The Japanese military rejected Joseon’s request for withdrawal. Instead, it invaded the Gyeongbok-gung Palace on the excuse of "domestic reform" and started First Sino-Japanese War by making an assault on the Qing army without warning. The Korean Peninsula turned into a battlefield of its neighbours and the Korean people suffered greatly from the war. The disbanded peasant army united again to fight the Japanese, but fell helplessly before the modern weapons of the Japanese army.

As a result of Japan’s victory in 1895, the Treaty of Shimonoseki was concluded between Qing China and Japan. The Japanese won a considerable amount of monetary compensation, along with the territories of Liaodong Peninsula and Taiwan as well as its dominance over Joseon kingdom. The traditional, Sino-centric interstate order of East Asia collapsed following the Sino-Japanese war, and Qing China was reduced to a semi-colony in encroachment of imperial powers.

Japan’s victory triggered Russia into action. Russia, allied with Germany and France, pressured Japan to return the Liaodong Peninsula to Qing China; Korean King Gojong therefore pursued a pro-Russian policy to fend off the Japanese. In retaliation, Japan sent ronins and soldiers to murder Queen Min of Joseon later in in 1895 and imposed coercive policies. While a series of anti-Japanese military campaigns raged throughout the Joseon kingdom, King Gojong escaped the central palace to the Russian legation, inviting more Russian influence in Korea.

A year after his escape, King Gojong made his return to Deoksu Palace and proclaimed an imperial status for his country, with the intention of freeing his country from the Chinese, Japanese, and Russian interferences. To build a modern nation, the new empire implemented the Gwangmu Reforms in order to reinforce its national defence, promote education, commerce and industry, and establish a modern system of land ownership. Despite its efforts, Korea’s goal for autonomy was frustrated by yet another war, the 1905 Russo-Japanese War, resulting in Treaty of Portsmouth which granted Japan the right to dominate the Korean Peninsula and to construct railways in southern Manchuria.

수정본

Three Empires Struggle for Korea

When Japan began to expand its influence over the Korean Peninsula following the signing of the Treaty of Ganghwa, the Qing dynasty in China began to intervene in the political and diplomatic affairs of the Joseon kingdom by having its army stationed in Joseon on the pretext of supressing the Military Uprising of 1882. Amid the Sino-Japanese competition over the peninsula, Korean peasants, who were suffering from government corruption and heavy tax-burdens, initiated an uprising to "repel foreign powers and correct erroneous politics" called the the Donghak Peasant Movement.

The Joseon government requested the Qing court send troops to suppress the peasant army. When Qing sent the troops to Korea, the Japanese also sent its troops “to protect its citizens," so that both armies arrived in Korea almost at the same time. The Joseon government, surprised by the unexpected arrival of the Japanese troops, concluded the Jeonju Accord in response to some of the peasants’ demands and called for both the Chinese and Japanese armies to withdraw simultaneously.

The Japanese military rejected Joseon’s request for withdrawal. Instead, it invaded Gyeongbokgung Palace on the excuse of "domestic reform" and started First Sino-Japanese War by making an assault on the Qing army without warning. The Korean Peninsula turned into a battlefield of its neighbours and the Korean people suffered greatly from the war. The disbanded peasant army united again to fight the Japanese, but fell helplessly before the modern weapons of the Japanese army.

As a result of Japan’s victory in 1895, the Treaty of Shimonoseki was concluded between Qing China and Japan. The Japanese won a considerable amount of monetary compensation, along with the territories of Liaodong Peninsula and Taiwan as well as its dominance over Joseon kingdom. The traditional, Sino-centric interstate order of East Asia collapsed following the Sino-Japanese war, and Qing China was reduced to a semi-colony in encroachment of imperial powers.

Japan’s victory triggered Russia into action. Russia, allied with Germany and France, pressured Japan to return the Liaodong Peninsula to Qing China; Korean King Gojong therefore pursued a pro-Russian policy to fend off the Japanese. In retaliation, Japan sent soldiers to murder Queen Min of Joseon later in 1895 and imposed coercive policies. While a series of anti-Japanese military campaigns raged throughout the Joseon kingdom, King Gojong escaped from Gyeongbokgung to the Russian legation, inviting more Russian influence in Korea.

A year after his escape, King Gojong made his return to Gyeongungung (now Deoksugung) Palace and proclaimed the Korean Empire, with the intention of freeing his country from Chinese, Japanese, and Russian interferences. To build a modern nation, the new empire implemented the Gwangmu Reforms in order to reinforce its national defence, promote education, commerce and industry, and establish a modern system of land ownership.

Despite its efforts, Korea’s goal for autonomy was frustrated by yet another war, the 1905 Russo-Japanese War. Japan did not see Russia's influence on Korea favorably. Therefore, Japan raided the Russian navy moored in Incheon Port, beginning the Russo-Japanese War. Japan was successful against Russia, and the resulting Treaty of Portsmouth granted Japan the right to dominate the Korean Peninsula and to construct railways in southern Manchuria. Japan as the victor of the Russo-Japanese War threatened Emperor Gojong’s government into concluding the Eulsa Treaty in 1905, spurring colonization of the Korean Peninsula. The Treaty ultimately robbed Korea’s national sovereignty in 1910.