How was Korea ‘Opened’? 1866-

1876L/O – To identify how and why Korea was forced to

sign unfair treaties with Japan and the West

King Kojong of Korea, 1852-1919

Choson Korea 1392-1910• Korea had been ruled by the

Choson (Yi) Dynasty since 1392. Korea was governed by a hereditary Monarchy and society was influenced heavily by Chinese culture: Buddhism & Confucianism.

• Unlike Japan, Korea didn’t have an entrenched military class by instead, society was dominated by an upper class called the ‘Yangban’.

King Taejo of Joseon

Choson Korea 1392-1910• Korea had also been invaded many

times. The Japanese led by Toyotomi Hideyoshi had invaded in 1592 and 1597.

• The Manchus had also invaded in 1627 and 1636 before moving on to invade China in 1644, creating the Qing Dynasty.

• The Manchus forced Korea into paying tribute to China, becoming a ‘tributary’ state of China’s.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Shunzhi Emperor

Choson Korea 1392-1910• After the Manchu invasion and until

the 1850s, the Choson government followed a policy of seclusion.

• All travel and contact with foreigners was forbidden except from the occasional contact with the Japanese and tributary missions to China.

• Korea’s continued seclusion in the 19th century earned it the nickname ‘Hermit Kingdom’.

The General Sherman Incident• In July 1866, the US ship ‘General

Sherman’ arrived with the aim of forcing the Hermit Kingdom to trade.

• The mission ended in bloodshed with the crew taking Korean officials hostage and attacking civilians.

• The outraged Koreans set fire to the ship and killed all on board. Apparently Kim Il Sung’s great-grandfather led the attack on the Sherman!

The Opening of Korea – French Attempt• The French were next in October

1866. 7 ships were sent to open up trade.

• The French attacked the island of Kanghwa near Seoul but were forced to abandon it due to being outnumbered.

• The French were unable to negotiate a treaty so left in defeat.

Admiral Ross

French landing at Kanghwa

The Opening of Korea – USA• Angered by the capture and

murder of the crew of the General Sherman in 1866, the Americans sent a fleet of 5 heavily armed ships to Korea in 1871.

• They had 85 guns and over 1200 sailors and marines.

• They again wanted to force Korean to trade.

Council of war on board USS Colorado, June 1871

The Opening of Korea - USA• Despite being peaceful at first, a

misunderstanding led to fighting.

• The Americans destroyed all the Korean forts on Kanghwa Island but the Koreans still refused to discuss trade.

• They had no choice but to leave on 3rd July 1871. The Korean’s were even more suspicious of foreigners. Korean dead at Kanghwa

Japanese Attempts• The Japanese were next to try. In

1873 the 21 year old King Kojong, eager to rule on his own, forced the Taewongun out of power and sought friendship with Japan.

• Followers of Queen Min opposed this move. Korea was divided.

• Japan decided to seize on this desire for friendship by supporting the King.

Heungseon Taewongun (Prince of the Great Court

and Regent)

Empress Myeongseong

known as Queen Min

King Kojong of Korea

Imperial Japanese Navy, in Pusan, on its way to

Kanghwa Island, January 16th 1876

The Opening of Korea - Japan• In February 1876 the Japanese

raided the city of Pusan and was fired upon by Koreans on Kanghwa Island.

• Using this as a pretext, the Japanese with 400 soldiers overran the Island and raided the Korean countryside.

• They then pressurised the Korean government into signing a treaty.

The Treaty of Kanghwa• The treaty recognised Korean

independence but was in reality an unfair treaty.

• The ports of Pusan, Wonsan and Inchon were opened to Japanese trade. Japan was exempt from customs duties and given extraterritoriality rights.

• A Japanese consul was also stationed in Seoul.

Consequences of the Treaty• The treaty was a humiliation to

Korea and opinion with Korea was divided – should they modernise like Japan or return to the Confucian past?

• Modernisers supported the King whilst conservatives supported the Queen.

• The Queen would eventually be murdered by the Japanese in 1895.

Consequences of the Treaty• In 1882 the USA once again

attempted to sign a trade treaty and was successful – Korea-American Treaty of Friendship and Trade.

• Similar treaties are signed with other Western powers.

• China is angered by what it views as Japanese meddling in its ‘tributary state’.

Questions

1. Read the article ‘Opening the Hermit Kingdom’ and answer the questions attached.

2. Read the article on the ‘Korea: From Hermit Kingdom to Colony’ and answer the questions attached.