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{{Infobox East Asian
Through the Eulsa Treaty of 1905, Korea ceded foreign diplomacy to the Japanese Empire. It has been stated that it is for this treaty that Korea was not able to protest the later Japanese take over of the Dokdo (Takeshima) Island, which it secretly did for strategic reasons in its campaigns against Russia in the Russo-Japanese War. This treaty was also the precursor to the formal annexation of Korea in 1910.
|title=Eulsa Treaty
|hangul=을사 조약
|hanja=乙巳條約
|rr=Eulsa joyak
|mr=Ŭlsa choyak
|kanji=第二次日韓協約
|kyujitai=
|shinjitai=
|kana=
|hiragana=だいにじにっかんきょうやく
|romaji=
|hepburn= Dai-niji nikkan kyōyaku
}}

The '''Eulsa Treaty''' or '''Japan-Korea Protectorate Treaty''' was made between the ] and the ] on 17 November 1905, influenced by the result of the ]. This treaty deprived ] of its diplomatic sovereignty,<ref name="KimKoo">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.ivynews.kr/news/news_main.html?number=41&code=feature
|title=Independence leader Kim Koo
|date=2008-04-28
|accessdate=2009-05-04
}}
</ref><ref name="kaiser">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.korea.net/news/news/NewsView.asp?serial_no=20080221026&part=109&SearchDay=
|title=Emperor Gojong's letter to German Kaiser discovered
|date=2008-02-21
|accessdate=2009-05-04
}}
</ref><ref name="deoksu">
{{cite web
|url=http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2891414
|title=Deoksu Jungmyeongjeon
|date=2008-06-23
|accessdate=2009-05-04
}}
</ref> in effect making ] a ]<ref>, by ]</ref> of ]. Later, in 1910, ] by Japan followed.

This treaty, later, was confirmed to be "''already ]''" by ] concluded in 1965.
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.wikisource.org/Treaty_on_Basic_Relations_between_Japan_and_the_Republic_of_Korea|title=Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea}}
It is confirmed that all treaties or agreements concluded between the Empire of Japan and the Empire of Korea on or before August 22, 1910 are already null and void.</ref>

==History==
Following Japan’s victory in the Russo-Japanese War, with its subsequent withdrawal of Russian influence, and the ], by which the ] agreed not to interfere with Japan in matters concerning Korea, the Japanese government sought to formalize its ] over the ].

Delegates of both Empires met in ] 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 ] stationed at strategic locations throughout Korea, the Korean side was at a distinct disadvantage in the discussions. On 17 November 1905, the Korean cabinet signed an agreement that had been prepared by ] in the Jungmyeongjeon Hall, a European-style building that was once part of ]<ref name="deoksu"/>. The Agreement gave Japan complete responsibility for Korea’s foreign affairs, and placed all trade through Korean ports under Japanese supervision.

The treaty was enacted after it received the signature of five Korean ministers; (who have been reviled by later Korean historians as the '']''):
*Minister of Education ] ({{lang|ko|이완용;李完用}})
*Minister of Army ] ({{lang|ko|이근택;李根澤}})
*Minister of Interior ] ({{lang|ko|이지용;李址鎔}})
*Minister of Foreign Affairs ] ({{lang|ko|박제순;朴齊純}})
*Minister of Agriculture, Commerce and Industry ] ({{lang|ko|권중현;權重顯}})

]
Some officials, including most notably ], did not sign the treaty, which had led Korean historians to dispute the ] legality of the treaty. The officials included:
* ]
* Prime Minister ] ({{lang|ko|한규설;韓圭卨}})
* Minister of Justice ] ({{lang|ko|이하영;李夏榮}})
* Minister of Finance ] ({{lang|ko|민영기;閔泳綺}})
Nevertheless, it took effect immediately.

Gojong sent personal letters to major powers to appeal for their support against the illegal signing<ref name="kaiser"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200802/200802210015.html|title = Emperor Gojong's Letter to German Kaiser Unearthed|accessdate=2009-05-04|date=2008-06-21}}</ref>. As of February 21, 2008, 17 of which bearing his imperial seal have been confirmed sent by Gojong, including 7 of which are:
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*] which was personally handwritten by Gojong<ref name="kaiser"/>

Afterwards, in 1907, Korean Emperor ] sent three secret emissaries to the ] to protest the unfairness of the Eulsa Treaty. But the ]s of the world refused to allow Korea to take part in this ].

Not only the Emperor but the other Koreans protested against the Treaty. ] and ], who were high officials and led resistance against Eulsa treaty, killed themselves as resistance. Local ]s and commoners joined ]. They were called "Eulsa Euibyeong" (을사의병, 乙巳義兵) meaning "Righteous army against Eulsa Treaty"

This protest, the lack of the Imperial 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,{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} as being signed under duress, though the treaty remained uncontested internationally until ] in ].

This treaty laid the foundation for the ] in and subsequent ] in 1910.

The Eulsa Treaty and the subsequent ] between Korea and Japan were mutually declared ''"already null and void"'' explicitly by the ] of 1965.

In a joint statement on 23 June 2005, officials of ] and ] 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 identified as Japanese collaborators at the time of the treaty.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=South Korea targets Japanese collaborators' descendants |author=Julian Ryall |date=14 July 2010 |journal=] |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/southkorea/7890316/South-Korea-targets-Japanese-collaborators-descendants.html }}</ref>

== Name ==
In the ], ''eulsa'' is the ]'s 42nd year in which the treaty was signed.

In Japanese, the treaty is known under several names including {{nihongo|Second Japan-Korean Convention|第二次日韓協約|Dai-niji Nikkan Kyōyaku}}, {{nihongo||乙巳保護条約|Isshi Hogo Jōyaku}} and {{nihongo||韓国保護条約|Kankoku Hogo Jōyaku}}.

==See also==
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]

==References==
<references />

]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

==Sources==
*{{cite book
| last = Beasley
| first = W.G.
| year = 1991
| title = Japanese Imperialism 1894-1945
| publisher = Oxford University Press
| isbn = 0198221681
}}
*{{cite book
| last = Duus
| first = Peter
| year = 1998
| title = The Abacus and the Sword: The Japanese Penetration of Korea, 1895-1910
| publisher = University of California Press
| location =
| isbn = 0520213610
}}

]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Revision as of 08:49, 22 August 2010

Eulsa Treaty
Korean name
Hangul을사 조약
Hanja乙巳條約
Transcriptions
Revised RomanizationEulsa joyak
McCune–ReischauerŬlsa choyak
Japanese name
Kanji第二次日韓協約
Hiraganaだいにじにっかんきょうやく

The Eulsa Treaty or Japan-Korea Protectorate Treaty was made between the Empire of Japan and the Korean Empire on 17 November 1905, influenced by the result of the Russo-Japanese War. This treaty deprived Korea of its diplomatic sovereignty, in effect making Korea a protectorate of Japan. Later, in 1910, full annexation of Korea by Japan followed.

This treaty, later, was confirmed to be "already null and void" by Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea concluded in 1965.

History

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 States 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. On 17 November 1905, the Korean cabinet signed an agreement that had been prepared by Ito Hirobumi in the Jungmyeongjeon Hall, a European-style building that was once part of Deoksu Palace. The Agreement gave Japan complete responsibility for Korea’s foreign affairs, and placed all trade through Korean ports under Japanese supervision.

The treaty was enacted after it received the signature of five Korean ministers; (who have been reviled by later Korean historians as the Five Eulsa Traitors):

  • Minister of Education Lee Wan-Yong (이완용;李完用)
  • Minister of Army Yi Geun-taek (이근택;李根澤)
  • Minister of Interior Yi Ji-yong (이지용;李址鎔)
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs Pak Je-sun (박제순;朴齊純)
  • Minister of Agriculture, Commerce and Industry Gwon Jung-hyeon (권중현;權重顯)
Emperor Gojong's official retraction of the Eulsa Treaty.

Some officials, including most notably Emperor Gojong of Korea, did not sign the treaty, which had led Korean historians to dispute the de jure legality of the treaty. The officials included:

Nevertheless, it took effect immediately.

Gojong sent personal letters to major powers to appeal for their support against the illegal signing. As of February 21, 2008, 17 of which bearing his imperial seal have been confirmed sent by Gojong, including 7 of which are:

Afterwards, 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 powers 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 yangbans 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 Imperial 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.

This treaty laid the foundation for the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty of 1907 in and subsequent annexation of Korea in 1910.

The Eulsa Treaty and the subsequent unequal treaties between Korea and Japan were mutually declared "already null and void" explicitly by the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea of 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 identified as Japanese collaborators at the time of the treaty.

Name

In the Korean calendar, eulsa is the Sexagenary Cycle's 42nd year in which the treaty was signed.

In Japanese, the treaty is known under several names including Second Japan-Korean Convention (第二次日韓協約, Dai-niji Nikkan Kyōyaku), Isshi Hogo Jōyaku (乙巳保護条約) and Kankoku Hogo Jōyaku (韓国保護条約).

See also

References

  1. "Independence leader Kim Koo". 2008-04-28. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
  2. ^ "Emperor Gojong's letter to German Kaiser discovered". 2008-02-21. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
  3. ^ "Deoksu Jungmyeongjeon". 2008-06-23. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
  4. The history of Korea, pp.461~462, by Homer Hulbert
  5. "Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea". It is confirmed that all treaties or agreements concluded between the Empire of Japan and the Empire of Korea on or before August 22, 1910 are already null and void.
  6. "Emperor Gojong's Letter to German Kaiser Unearthed". 2008-06-21. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
  7. Julian Ryall (14 July 2010). "South Korea targets Japanese collaborators' descendants". telegraph.co.uk.

Sources

  • Beasley, W.G. (1991). Japanese Imperialism 1894-1945. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0198221681.
  • Duus, Peter (1998). The Abacus and the Sword: The Japanese Penetration of Korea, 1895-1910. University of California Press. ISBN 0520213610.
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