Eulsa Treaty
Encyclopedia
The Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905, also known as the Eulsa Treaty or Japan–Korea Protectorate Treaty, was made between the Empire of Japan
and the Korean Empire
in 1905. Negotiations were concluded on November 17, 1905.
In the metonymy
"Ulsa Treaty," the word Eulsa or Ulsa derives the Sexagenary Cycle's 42nd year of the Korean calendar
, in which the treaty was signed. The treaty is identified by several names including Second Japan-Korea Convention (Japanese
: 第二次日韓協約, Korean
: 제2차한일협약, 第二次韓日協約), Eulsa Restriction Treaty (Korean
: 을사늑약, 乙巳勒約), Eulsa Protection Treaty (Japanese
: 乙巳保護条約, Korean
: 을사보호조약), and Korea Protection Treaty (Japanese
: 韓国保護条約). It was influenced by the result of the Russo-Japanese War
.
agreed not to interfere with Japan in matters concerning Korea, the Japanese government sought to formalize its sphere of influence
over the Korean peninsula
.
Delegates of both Empires met in Seoul
to resolve differences in matters pertaining to Korea’s future foreign policy; however, with the Korean Imperial palace under occupation by Japanese troops, and the Imperial Japanese Army
stationed at strategic locations throughout Korea, the Korean side was at a distinct disadvantage in the discussions.
arrived in Seoul and he gave the letter from Emperor of Japan to Gojong, Emperor of Korea which asking the treaty. From 15 November 1905, he ordered Japanese troops to encircle the Korean imperial palace and threatened the emperor to agree on the treaty.
On 17 November 1905, Hasegawa and Ito entered the Jungmyeongjeon Hall, a European-style building that was once part of Deoksu Palace to persuade Gojong to agree, but he refused and delegated it to ministers. Ito forced the cabinet to sign the treaty. Korean Prime minister Han Gyu-seol disagreed shouting loudly. Ito ordered the guards to lock him in a room and said if he continue to screaming, they could kill him. The Korean cabinet signed an agreement that had been prepared by Ito in the Jungmyeongjeon. The Agreement gave Japan complete responsibility for Korea’s foreign affairs, and placed all trade through Korean ports under Japanese supervision.
of its diplomatic sovereignty, in effect making Korea
a protectorate
of Japan
. The provisions of the treaty took effect on 17 November 1905, and it laid the foundation for the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907, and subsequent annexation of Korea in 1910.
The treaty was deemed to have gone into effect after it received the signature of five Korean ministers:
Emperor Gojong of Korea did not assent or sign the treaty. Other officials who disputed the treaty included:
Emperor Gojong sent personal letters to major heads of state
to appeal for their support against the illegal signing. As of February 21, 1908, he had sent 17 letters bearing his imperial seal, including to the following eight rulers:
In 1907, Korean Emperor Gojong sent three secret emissaries to the second international Hague Peace Convention to protest the unfairness of the Eulsa Treaty. But the great power
s of the world refused to allow Korea to take part in this conference
.
Not only the Emperor but the other Koreans protested against the Treaty. Jo Byeong-se and Min Yeong-hwan, who were high officials and led resistance against Eulsa treaty, killed themselves as resistance. Local yangban
s and commoners joined righteous armies
. They were called "Eulsa Euibyeong" (을사의병, 乙巳義兵) meaning "Righteous army against Eulsa Treaty"
This protest, the lack of the royal assent, and the intimidation by Japanese troops during the negotiations have been used by later historians and lawyers to question the legal validity of the treaty, as being signed under duress, though the treaty remained uncontested internationally until Japan's defeat
in World War II
.
concluded in 1965.
In a joint statement on 23 June 2005, officials of South Korea
and North Korea
reiterated their stance that the Eulsa treaty be null and void on a claim of coercion by the Japanese.
South Korea is currently seizing property and other assets from the descendants of people who have been identified as Japanese collaborators at the time of the treaty.
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
and the Korean Empire
Korean Empire
The Greater Korean Empire was an empire of Korea that succeeded the Joseon Dynasty.In October 1897, Emperor Gojong proclaimed the new entity at Gyeongungung Palace and oversaw the partially successful modernization of the military, economy, land system, education system, and various industries...
in 1905. Negotiations were concluded on November 17, 1905.
In the metonymy
Metonymy
Metonymy is a figure of speech used in rhetoric in which a thing or concept is not called by its own name, but by the name of something intimately associated with that thing or concept...
"Ulsa Treaty," the word Eulsa or Ulsa derives the Sexagenary Cycle's 42nd year of the Korean calendar
Korean calendar
The traditional Korean calendar is a lunisolar calendar, like the traditional calendars of other East Asian countries. Dates are calculated from Korea's meridian, and observances and festivals are based in Korean culture....
, in which the treaty was signed. The treaty is identified by several names including Second Japan-Korea Convention (Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
: 第二次日韓協約, Korean
Korean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
: 제2차한일협약, 第二次韓日協約), Eulsa Restriction Treaty (Korean
Korean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
: 을사늑약, 乙巳勒約), Eulsa Protection Treaty (Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
: 乙巳保護条約, Korean
Korean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
: 을사보호조약), and Korea Protection Treaty (Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
: 韓国保護条約). It was influenced by the result of the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
.
Background
Following Japan’s victory in the Russo–Japanese War, with its subsequent withdrawal of Russian influence, and the Taft–Katsura Agreement, by which the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
agreed not to interfere with Japan in matters concerning Korea, the Japanese government sought to formalize its sphere of influence
Sphere of influence
In the field of international relations, a sphere of influence is a spatial region or conceptual division over which a state or organization has significant cultural, economic, military or political influence....
over the Korean peninsula
Korean Peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...
.
Delegates of both Empires met in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
to resolve differences in matters pertaining to Korea’s future foreign policy; however, with the Korean Imperial palace under occupation by Japanese troops, and the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
stationed at strategic locations throughout Korea, the Korean side was at a distinct disadvantage in the discussions.
Formation of treaty
On 9 November 1905, Ito HirobumiIto Hirobumi
Prince was a samurai of Chōshū domain, Japanese statesman, four time Prime Minister of Japan , genrō and Resident-General of Korea. Itō was assassinated by An Jung-geun, a Korean nationalist who was against the annexation of Korea by the Japanese Empire...
arrived in Seoul and he gave the letter from Emperor of Japan to Gojong, Emperor of Korea which asking the treaty. From 15 November 1905, he ordered Japanese troops to encircle the Korean imperial palace and threatened the emperor to agree on the treaty.
On 17 November 1905, Hasegawa and Ito entered the Jungmyeongjeon Hall, a European-style building that was once part of Deoksu Palace to persuade Gojong to agree, but he refused and delegated it to ministers. Ito forced the cabinet to sign the treaty. Korean Prime minister Han Gyu-seol disagreed shouting loudly. Ito ordered the guards to lock him in a room and said if he continue to screaming, they could kill him. The Korean cabinet signed an agreement that had been prepared by Ito in the Jungmyeongjeon. The Agreement gave Japan complete responsibility for Korea’s foreign affairs, and placed all trade through Korean ports under Japanese supervision.
Treaty provisions
This treaty deprived KoreaKorea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
of its diplomatic sovereignty, in effect making Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
a protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The provisions of the treaty took effect on 17 November 1905, and it laid the foundation for the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907, and subsequent annexation of Korea in 1910.
The treaty was deemed to have gone into effect after it received the signature of five Korean ministers:
- Minister of Education Lee Wan-YongLee Wan-YongLee Wan-Yong was a pro-Japanese minister of Korea, who signed the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty, which placed Korea under Japanese rule in 1910....
- Minister of Army Yi Geun-taek
- Minister of Interior Yi Ji-yong
- Minister of Foreign Affairs Pak Je-sun
- Minister of Agriculture, Commerce and Industry Gwon Jung-hyeon
Emperor Gojong of Korea did not assent or sign the treaty. Other officials who disputed the treaty included:
- Prime Minister Han Gyu-seol
- Minister of Finance Min Yeong-gi
- Minister of Justice Yi Ha-yeong
Controversy
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
to appeal for their support against the illegal signing. As of February 21, 1908, he had sent 17 letters bearing his imperial seal, including to the following eight rulers:
- Edward VII of the United KingdomEdward VII of the United KingdomEdward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
- Armand FallièresArmand FallièresClément Armand Fallières was a French politician, president of the French republic from 1906 to 1913.He was born at Mézin in the département of Lot-et-Garonne, France, where his father was clerk of the peace...
of FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... - Nicholas II of RussiaNicholas II of RussiaNicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until...
- Franz Joseph of Austria
- Victor Emmanuel III of ItalyVictor Emmanuel III of ItalyVictor Emmanuel III was a member of the House of Savoy and King of Italy . In addition, he claimed the crowns of Ethiopia and Albania and claimed the titles Emperor of Ethiopia and King of Albania , which were unrecognised by the Great Powers...
- Léopold II of BelgiumLeopold II of BelgiumLeopold II was the second king of the Belgians. Born in Brussels the second son of Leopold I and Louise-Marie of Orléans, he succeeded his father to the throne on 17 December 1865 and remained king until his death.Leopold is chiefly remembered as the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free...
- Guangxu Emperor of China
- Wilhelm II of Germany which was personally handwritten by Gojong
In 1907, Korean Emperor Gojong sent three secret emissaries to the second international Hague Peace Convention to protest the unfairness of the Eulsa Treaty. But the great power
Great power
A great power is a nation or state that has the ability to exert its influence on a global scale. Great powers characteristically possess military and economic strength and diplomatic and cultural influence which may cause small powers to consider the opinions of great powers before taking actions...
s of the world refused to allow Korea to take part in this conference
Hague Secret Emissary Affair
Hague Secret Emissary Affair resulted from Korean Emperor Gojong sending confidential emissaries to the Second Peace Conference at The Hague, the Netherlands, in 1907.-Background:...
.
Not only the Emperor but the other Koreans protested against the Treaty. Jo Byeong-se and Min Yeong-hwan, who were high officials and led resistance against Eulsa treaty, killed themselves as resistance. Local yangban
Yangban
The yangban were part of the traditional ruling class or nobles of dynastic Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. The yangban were either landed or unlanded aristocracy who comprised the Korean Confucian idea of a "scholarly official." In reality, they were basically administrators and bureaucrats who...
s and commoners joined righteous armies
Righteous army
Righteous armies, sometimes called irregular armies or militias, have appeared several times in Korean history, when the national armies were in need of assistance....
. They were called "Eulsa Euibyeong" (을사의병, 乙巳義兵) meaning "Righteous army against Eulsa Treaty"
This protest, the lack of the royal assent, and the intimidation by Japanese troops during the negotiations have been used by later historians and lawyers to question the legal validity of the treaty, as being signed under duress, though the treaty remained uncontested internationally until Japan's defeat
Surrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Rescission
This treaty, later, was confirmed to be "already null and void" by Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of KoreaTreaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea
The Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea was signed on June 22, 1965 to establish basic relationship between Japan and the Republic of Korea .-History:...
concluded in 1965.
In a joint statement on 23 June 2005, officials of South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
reiterated their stance that the Eulsa treaty be null and void on a claim of coercion by the Japanese.
South Korea is currently seizing property and other assets from the descendants of people who have been identified as Japanese collaborators at the time of the treaty.
See also
- Unequal TreatiesUnequal Treaties“Unequal treaty” is a term used in specific reference to a number of treaties imposed by Western powers, during the 19th and early 20th centuries, on Qing Dynasty China and late Tokugawa Japan...
- Japan–Korea Treaty of 1904
- Japan-Korea Agreement of August 1904Japan-Korea Agreement of August 1904The Japan–Korea Protocol of August 1904 was made between representatives of the Empire of Japan and the Korean Empire in 1904. Negotiations were concluded on August 22, 1904.-Treaty provisions:...
- Japan-Korea Agreement of April 1905Japan-Korea Agreement of April 1905The Japan-Korea Protocol of August 1905 was made between the Empire of Japan and the Korean Empire in 1905. Negotiations were concluded on April 1, 1905.-Treaty provisions:...
- Japan-Korea Agreement of August 1905Japan-Korea Agreement of August 1905The Japan-Korea Protocol of August 1905 was made between representatives of the Empire of Japan and the Korean Empire in 1905. Negotiations were concluded on August 13, 1905.-Treaty provisions:...
- Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907
- Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910
- List of Korea-related topics
- Liancourt RocksLiancourt RocksThe Liancourt Rocks, also known as Dokdo or Tokto in Korean or in Japanese, are a group of small islets in the Sea of Japan . Sovereignty over the islets is disputed between Japan and South Korea...