The Treaty of Ganghwa, also known in Japan as Korea-Japanese Treaty of Amity, signed on February 27, 1876, was written by Kuroda Kiyotaka, Governor of Hokkaidō. Kuroda's intention was to open up Korea to Japanese trade. Japan sought to gain Korean's trust by allying with Korea to end Korea's status as a tributary state of China. The treaty describes Korea as an independent state, equal in status to Japan. However, the terms of the treaty were far from equal. The Treaty granted Japanese many rights that were not granted to Korea on an equal basis. The Treaty of Ganghwa was Korea's first formal step toward opening foreign relations after centuries of a strong policy of isolation. Ultimately, it later proved to be the first step towards Korea's submission to Japanese rule some three decades later.
For a number of centuries, Korea had enjoyed a measure of security supported by its relationship of suzerainty with China. China controlled Korea from a distance, receiving annual payments of tribute in return for helping maintain Korean's safety, while control of the country essentially remained in Korea's hands. China did not, for example, station troops in Korea to keep an eye on things. The relationship consisted primarily of the annual tribute payments, and the Chinese court exerting its opinion on matters of state in a very civilized manner.
After the Industrial Revolution in eighteenth century, European nations began to colonize many other weaker nations in Africa and Asia, in keeping with the political ideology called Imperialism. Almost all of Africa was colonized by European Powers; most of Central, South, and Southeast Asia including India was taken over by various European nations. East Asia also was invaded by foreign powers, beginning with the Opium Wars in China by Britain and other foreign powers; China's vast, magnificent empire was reduced to a half-colonized territory. Meanwhile, the American Asiatic Squadron under the leadership of Matthew C. Perry forced Japan to open its ports to the western world in 1854.
Seeing how the western powers were gaining control of China, and not wishing to be taken under control by the western powers, Korea decided to sign a treaty with Japan, feeling that Japan would be a safer partner than the Europeans or the Americans. However, at the same time, humiliated by unequal treaties signed with European nations and shamed by their failure to resist Admiral Perry's inroads, Japan responded by embarking on a rapid transformation, successfully turning itself from a comparatively medieval society into a modern industrialized state in a short period of time. Japan's next step was to imitate the techniques that the western powers had used in relation to her, and exert the same kind of control over Korea, beginning with the Treaty of Ganghwa.
Ganghwa Incident
In the late Joseon period in Korea, Daewongun
maintained a strong closed door policy to European powers. During the period
when Daewongun held power, France and United States had made several
unsuccessful attempts to begin commerce with the Joseon Dynasty. When Gojong
and Queen Min took over rule of the Joseon nation from Daewongun, advisors in
the court felt it was time to open the country to relations with the outside
world. While there was political instability, Japan developed a plan to open
and exert influence on Korea before a European power could. In 1875, their plan
was put into action: the Unyo, a small Japanese warship under the
command of Inoue Yoshika, was dispatched to survey coastal waters without
Korean permission.
On September 20, the ship reached Ganghwa
Island, which had been a site of violent confrontations between Korean forces
and foreign forces in the previous decade. In 1866, the island was briefly
occupied by the French, and also in 1871 subject to American intervention. The
memories of those confrontations were very fresh, and there was little question
that the Korean garrison would shoot at any approaching foreign ship.
Nonetheless, Commander Inoue ordered a small boat launched—allegedly in search
of drinkable water. The Korean forts opened fire. The Unyo brought its superior
firepower to bear and silenced the Korean guns. Then it attacked another Korean
port and withdrew back to Japan
Kuroda Mission
The treaty became the first unequal treaty signed by Korea; it gave extraterritorial rights to Japanese citizens in Korea, the Korean government was to open 3 ports to Japanese and foreign trade, specifically Busan, Incheon and Wonsan and was to establish its independence in foreign relations from China (although it still paid tribute to China).
Aftermath of the Treaty of Ganghwa
Following the signing of the Treaty of Ganghwa, between Japan and Korea, China was worried that Japan would gain too much control over Korea, so China encouraged Korea to sign similar treaties with the United States (1882), Great Britain (1883), Germany (1883), Italy (1884), France (1886), Austria-Hungary (1892), Belgium (1901), and Denmark (1902). A little while later, Japan demanded Korea sign a treaty turning over control of Korea's communications to Japan (1905), and later the same year, another treaty put control of Korea's foreign relations under Japanese control. In 1907, the Japanese demanded that Emperor Gojong step down from the throne in favor of his son, Sunjong. Finally, in 1910, Korea signed contract of Annexation by Japan, and Japan declared that the Korean Empire was dissolved and that Korea was under Japanese rule.
Following the signing of the Treaty of Ganghwa, between Japan and Korea, China was worried that Japan would gain too much control over Korea, so China encouraged Korea to sign similar treaties with the United States (1882), Great Britain (1883), Germany (1883), Italy (1884), France (1886), Austria-Hungary (1892), Belgium (1901), and Denmark (1902). A little while later, Japan demanded Korea sign a treaty turning over control of Korea's communications to Japan (1905), and later the same year, another treaty put control of Korea's foreign relations under Japanese control. In 1907, the Japanese demanded that Emperor Gojong step down from the throne in favor of his son, Sunjong. Finally, in 1910, Korea signed contract of Annexation by Japan, and Japan declared that the Korean Empire was dissolved and that Korea was under Japanese rule.
- 1853 American Commodore Perry sailed into Uraga Harbor in Japan
- 1854 Under threat of force, Japan signed the Convention of Kanagawa with the United States
- 1858 Treaty of Amity and Commerce between Japan and the United States, and unequal treaty that favored the United States (followed by similar treaties between Japan and the Russians, French and British)
- 1866 General Sherman incident, in which an American ship sailed without permission into Korean waters, and was attacked and burned
- 1866 (October) French Campaign against Korea in retaliation for the killing of their Catholic missionaries in Korea
- 1868 Letter to Korea announcing Japan's new government was rejected by Korea because it seemed impolite toward China
- 1871 United States Korean Expedition, ostensibly investigating the General Sherman Incident, but really trying to make inroads to start trading relations
- 1875 Ganghwa Island Incident, in which a Japanese approached the Korean coast without permission, were attacked, and then demanded an apology
- 1876 Treaty of Amity, Friendship, Commerce and Navigation with Japan - Treaty of Ganghwa
- 1882 (June) Military Mutiny of Korean soldiers, threatening Japanese officials
- 1882 (October) Treaty of Jemulpo with Japan, with stronger stipulations than the Treaty of Ganghwa, demanded by Japan in reaction to the June Mutiny,
- 1882 Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the United States (this treaty and the following ones were encouraged by China)
- 1883 Treaty of Friendship and Commerce with Great Britain
- 1883 Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation with Germany
- 1884 Treaty of Friendship and Commerce with Italy
- 1886 Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navitation with France
- 1892 Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation with Austria-Hungary
- 1897 Creation of the Empire of Korea, declaring Korea on equal footing with China
- 1899 Commercial Treaty with China
- 1901 Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation with Belgium
- 1902 Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navitation with Denmark
- 1904 Protocol agreement giving Japan more control in Korea
- 1905 (April) Agreement regarding the Communication Services with Japan
- 1905 (November) Agreement by which Japan assumed charge of the Foreign Relations of Korea
- 1907 Agreement relating to the Internal Administration of Korea
- 1910 Treaty of Annexation of Korea by Japan
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Treaty_of_Ganghwa
McDougall, Walter A. 1993. Let the sea make a noise—: a history of the North Pacific from Magellan to MacArthur. New York, NY: Basic Books. ISBN 9780465051526.
