Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty of 1907
Encyclopedia
The Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907 was made between the Empire of Japan
and the Korean Empire
in 1907. Negotiations were concluded on July 24, 1907.
The Korean Empire had become a protectorate
of Japan under the terms of the earlier Eulsa Treaty
on 1905, and had thus lost the right to conduct diplomatic exchanges with other countries. Korean Emperor Gojong
sent an envoy in secret to the Hague Conference on World Peace to protest Japan’s actions. In retaliation, on 18 July 1907, Japan made Emperor Gojong abdicate in favor of his son Sunjong
.
Six days later, a new agreement was forced on the Korean government. Provisions in this new treaty gave the Japanese Resident-General
the right to appoint and dismiss high-ranking officials (article 4) and stipulated that all high-ranking officials appointed to the Korean government must be Japanese (article 5). This brought the internal government of Korea fully under the control of Japan. The unpublished section of the treaty also placed the Korean army under Japanese leadership, and handed over judicial and policing powers.
and Korea
, with a view to the early attainment of prosperity and strength in Korea and the speedy promotion of the welfare of the Korean people, have agreed upon and concluded the follow stipulations:
(1) The folling courts, composed of people from both Japan and Korea, shall be newly established.
The and of the Court shall be Japanese.
Two of the and five of the shall be Japanese.
One shall be located in the central region, and one each in the northern and southern regions.
Two of the Justices, one of the and five of the secretaries shall be Japanese.
One of these shall be located at each of the locations of the in the eight former
The and shall be Japanese.
32 of all attorneys and 80 of all secretaries shall be Japanese, and shall be allocated as appropriate given the degree of work required.
Thesе are to be located in the locations of important
One of the attorneys and one of the secretaries is to be Japanese.
(2) The following prisons shall be newly established.
One prison shall be located in the same area as each of the district courts, and one prison on one of the islands. The shall be Japanese.
Half the prison staff, consisting of the and levels below, shall be Japanese.
(3) Military forces shall be arranged as follows.
(4) All those currently in the service of Korea with the position of or shall be removed from their duties.
(5) The following Japanese shall be appointed as officials in the Korean and .
for each department
The matter of other appointments of Japanese as officials in the areas of finance, policing and technology shall be set down by a later agreement.
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 1907. Negotiations were concluded on July 24, 1907.
Treaty provisions
The treaty provided that Korea shall act under guidance of Japanese resident general. The effect of the treaty's provisions was that the administration of internal affairs were turned over to Japan.The Korean Empire had become 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 under the terms of the earlier Eulsa Treaty
Eulsa Treaty
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....
on 1905, and had thus lost the right to conduct diplomatic exchanges with other countries. Korean Emperor Gojong
Gojong of Korea
Gojong , the Emperor Gwangmu was the twenty-sixth king of the Korean Joseon Dynasty and the first emperor of the Korean Empire.-King of the Joseon:Gojong took the throne in 1863 when still a child...
sent an envoy in secret to the Hague Conference on World Peace to protest Japan’s actions. In retaliation, on 18 July 1907, Japan made Emperor Gojong abdicate in favor of his son Sunjong
Sunjong of Korea
Sunjong, the Yunghui Emperor was the last emperor of the Joseon Dynasty and Korean Empire in Korea, ruling from 1907 until 1910.He was the fourth son of Emperor Gwangmu. Crown Prince Yi Cheok was made Emperor Yung-hui when the Japanese forced the abdication of Emperor Gwangmu and his reign ended...
.
Six days later, a new agreement was forced on the Korean government. Provisions in this new treaty gave the Japanese Resident-General
Resident-General of Korea
When Korea was a protectorate of Japan, Japan was represented by the Resident-General.- List of Japanese Residents-General :#Itō Hirobumi#Sone Arasuke#Terauchi Masatake...
the right to appoint and dismiss high-ranking officials (article 4) and stipulated that all high-ranking officials appointed to the Korean government must be Japanese (article 5). This brought the internal government of Korea fully under the control of Japan. The unpublished section of the treaty also placed the Korean army under Japanese leadership, and handed over judicial and policing powers.
Translation of full text
"The Governments of JapanGovernment of Japan
The government of Japan is a constitutional monarchy where the power of the Emperor is very limited. As a ceremonial figurehead, he is defined by the 1947 constitution as "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people". Power is held chiefly by the Prime Minister of Japan and other elected...
and 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...
, with a view to the early attainment of prosperity and strength in Korea and the speedy promotion of the welfare of the Korean people, have agreed upon and concluded the follow stipulations:
- Article I. The Government of Korea shall follow the directions of the Resident General in connection with the reform of administration.
- Article II. Korea shall not enact any law or ordinance or carry out any administrative measure unless it has previous approval of the Resident General.
- Article III. The judicial affairs of Korea shall be kept distinct from ordinary administrative affairs.
- Article IV. No appointment or dismissal of Korean officials of high grade shall be made without the consent of the Resident General.
- Article V. Korea shall appoint to official positions such Japanese as are recommended by the Resident General.
- Article VI. Korea shall not engage any foreigner without the consent of the Resident general.
- Article VII. The first clause of the agreement between Japan and Korea, dated Aug. 22, 1904, is hereby abrogated."
- Lord Itō HirobumiIto HirobumiPrince 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...
[Marquess], Resident-General, July 24th, 40th year of the Meiji era [1907] (seal) - Sir 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....
, Prime Minister, July 24th, 11th year of the Gwangmu era [1907] (seal)
Diplomatic Memorandum (unpublished)
Based on the import of the Japan-Korea treaty of the 40th year of the Meiji era, the following items shall be enacted.(1) The folling courts, composed of people from both Japan and Korea, shall be newly established.
- 1 One located in Gyeongseong SeoulSeoulSeoul , 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...
or SuwonSuwonSuwon is the provincial capital of Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. A major city of over a million inhabitants, Suwon lies approximately south of Seoul. It is traditionally known as "The City of Filial Piety"....
.
The and of the Court shall be Japanese.
Two of the and five of the shall be Japanese.
- 2 Three
One shall be located in the central region, and one each in the northern and southern regions.
Two of the Justices, one of the and five of the secretaries shall be Japanese.
- 3 Eight
One of these shall be located at each of the locations of the in the eight former
The and shall be Japanese.
32 of all attorneys and 80 of all secretaries shall be Japanese, and shall be allocated as appropriate given the degree of work required.
- 4 103
Thesе are to be located in the locations of important
One of the attorneys and one of the secretaries is to be Japanese.
(2) The following prisons shall be newly established.
- 1 Nine prisons
One prison shall be located in the same area as each of the district courts, and one prison on one of the islands. The shall be Japanese.
Half the prison staff, consisting of the and levels below, shall be Japanese.
(3) Military forces shall be arranged as follows.
- The of the army, assigned to guarding the Emperor and other duties, shall be disbanded.
- Educated shall be assigned to the Japanese army for training in the field, except where it is necessary for them to remain in the Korean army.
- Appropriate provisions shall be made in Japan for training Korean soldiers to become officers.
(4) All those currently in the service of Korea with the position of or shall be removed from their duties.
(5) The following Japanese shall be appointed as officials in the Korean and .
for each department
- The
- One and one
- For the cabinet, several and
- For each department, several secretaries and assistant secretaries
- An for each province
- One for each province
- Several for each province
The matter of other appointments of Japanese as officials in the areas of finance, policing and technology shall be set down by a later agreement.
See also
- Unequal treaty
- Japan–Korea Treaty of 1904
- Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905
- Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910