This dissertation has been microfilmed exactly as received 66-10,191 RO, Kwang Hai, 1936- POWER POLITICS IN KOREA AND ITS IMPACT ON KOREAN FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC AFFAIRS, 1882-1907. The University of Oklahoma, Ph.D., 1966 Political Science, international law and relations University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA GRADUATE COLLEGE POWER POLITICS IN KOREA AND ITS IMPACT ON KOREAN FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC AFFAIRS, 1882-1907 A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE FACULTY in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY BY KWANG HAI RO Norman, Oklahoma 1966 POWER POLITICS IN KOREA AND ITS IMPACT ON KOREAN FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC AFFAIRS, 1882-1907 APPROVED A (© .IJj _ ___ DISSERTATION COMMITTEE TABLE OP CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION .......... ». ........... 1 Chapter I. 5IN0-JAPANE5E RIVALRY, 1882-1894 5 Factional Struggle within the Korean Court .......... 5 The Tonghak Rebellion ................. ...... 19 The End of Chinese Influence .................... 32 II. RUSSO-JAPANESE INFLUENCE AFTER THE SINO-JAPAIMESE WAR, 1895-1897 39 Japanese Active Interference and Assassination of Queen Min ....................... 39 The King's Escape to the Russian Legation .......... 60 Japanese Compromise Policy with Russia ........ 69 III. RUSSIAN ACTIVE INTERFERENCE AND ITS FAILURE ........ 76 Russian Aggressive Interference with the Korean G o v e r n m e n t ................. 76 The Rise of the Dok Rip Hyup Huai ("Independence C l u b " ) ....................................... 89 Suppression of the Progressive Reform Movement .... 95 IV. RUSSO-JAPANESE DIPLOMATIC COMPETITION, 1899-1904 .... 101 The Nishi-Rosen Protocol ............... 101 The Renewal of Rivalry .......................... 106 The Final Negotiation ............. 117 V. DEMISE OF THE KOREAN K I N G D O M .................... 132 Korean Neutrality and Japanese Violation ...... 132 Anglo-American Policy in Korea ..................... 144 The Korean Protectorate Treaty ................. 152 VI. KOREA'S STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE, 1905-1907 164 Korean Reaction Against the Japanese Protectorate . 164 The Emperor Appeals to the Foreign Powers .......... 172 The Abdication of the Emperor .................. 183 CONCLUSION .................................... 188 BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................ 193 INTRODUCTION Korea has existed as an autonomous state for most of its 4,000 years by virtue of the control or intervention of its powerful neighbor, China. Whenever the power of China was not sufficient to protect the autonomy of Korea, another nation, generally Japan, would try to gain a foothold in the Korean kingdom. Until 1895, the international status of Korea was largely determined either by Chinese supremacy or by ri­ valry between China and Japan. Japan terminated China's claim to control over Korea as a result of the Japanese victory in the Sino-Japanese War. However, Japan was then challenged in its control of Korea by Russia. The rivalry between Japan and Russia ended with the defeat of Russia in the Russo-Japanese war. Japanese control of Korea was thus firmly established. The international relations of Korea have been primarily the record of her relationship with the neighboring powers, namely : China, Russia and Japan. The peninsula of Korea has been a determining factor in the course of Far Eastern International relations which had assumed large proportions before the outbreak of the European war in 1914. Korea has affected world politics to a greater extent than most west­ erners are aware. Therefore modern Korea's international relations can be best understood by studying her relations with China, Russia and Japan from the events leading up to the Sino-Japanese war to the year 1907 which marked virtual "annexation" of Korea by Japan. This thesis primarily attempts to exaroine Korean foreign and domestic affairs during the struggle between China and Japan for the -1- -2- possession of Korea, the diplomatic and military struggle between Russia and Japan for the coveted prize, and the supremacy in the Far East that Japan won by her victory in the Russo-Japanese war» Sub­ sequently, this thesis examines comparatively the Chinese, Russian and Japanese methods of diplomacy in the attempt to establish their suprem­ acy in Korea, and analyzes the reason for the failure of Korea to pre­ serve her independence. Korean relations with other foreign powers, especially the United States, are covered in order to present the necessary terms of reference for the position of the Korean court's attempt to regain her indepen­ dence . In the preparation of this thesis Korean sources which obviously reflect Korean views, are used abundantly. Therefore it would seem wise to explain that this is somerdiat an "unbalanced" study in terms of giving equal attention to the national sources of the several protag­ onists in Korea. Some sharply controversial questions have been nec­ essarily discussed, and this thesis can not reasonably anticipate immunity from the criticisms of those vdio will differ with it. The author can only say that he has sought to be fair and just. Any one who tries to keep in the middle of the rather tortuous road that runs be­ tween those vdio regard the Japanese as a model people and those whom regard them as "varnished savages", and between those Wio assert that the Korean are "afflicted saints" and those who assert with equal vehemence that they are "the most contemptible people on earth", must expect to be assailed from both sides. One apologetic note toward my fellow countrymen, the Koreans must be offered, Alexis de Tocqueville stated in the Preface to his The -3- Old Regime and the French Revolution; I have not shrunk from wounding the feeling of individuals and class (nor from) affronting certain opin­ ions and ancient loyalties, laudable though these may be. In so doing I have often regret but never any qualms of conscience, and I can only hope that those vdio may be inclined to take offense at anything in this book will realize that its author has aimed at honesty and impartiality. Sharing the feeling of Tocqueville, it is hoped that sufficient new information is contained herein to justify its presentation. A careful evaluation of each event in the thesis will, it is hoped, permit one to form a more accurate judgment and sophisticated interpreta­ tion of Far Eastern international politics, which have now attained a magnitude that renders them of even more profound significance to the world. A final word concerning utilization of Far Eastern language source materials is necessary. The author has translated Korean and Japanese sources materials. With few exceptions, the customary rule is followed of presenting oriental names with the family naiæ first (that is Kim, Ok-kyun instead of Ok Kyun Kim). I wish to express my sincere appreciation to Professor Rufus George Hall, Jr., my major adviser, who in addition to the invaluable sugges­ tions and time afforded to this dissertation, has made my graduate work a busy, stimulating and rewarding experience. My thanks also go to Professors John Paul Duncan, Percy Wilson Bucanan, Oliver Earl Benson and W. Eugene Hollon who read this dissertation and helped in the preparation of this work. I also want to express my appreciation to Professor Park Hyuk-byong at Song Kyun Kwan University, Seoul, Korea who rendered vital and prompt service to my frequent and often unusual request for source materials in the preparation of this work. -4- In actual writing I have benefited much from the patient and critical reading of the manuscript by Professors C. D. Batchler and Homer Nicholson. I wish to acknowledge ray appreciation to both of them. I also want to express my gratitude to Sue Nichols for typing the final copy. POWER POLITICS IN KOREA AND ITS IMPACT ON KOREAN FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC AFFAIRS, 1882-1907 CHAPTER I SINO-JAPANESE RIVALRY, 1882-1894 Factional Struggle Within the Korean Court The factional struggles within the Korean court clearly definable as early as 1882 were of two kinds. One of them involved the personal rivalry between Queen Min and Tai Wen Kun^, the Regent for the King. The other was between the conservatives and progressives. Both factions engaged in a political struggle for the control of governmental power. These factions were sometimes intermingled as the occasion demanded but their main objective was to maintain political supremacy over the country, Tai Wen Kun, father of the King, attempted to be the real ruler. The Queen, a woman of natural ability and of imperious will, had gathered about her a faction which v/as wholly inimical to the plans and tactics of the Regent. When the King was twenty-tvra, Tai Wen Kun retired as Regent in 1873. The Queen's brother, Min Sung-ho, was appointed as Prime Minister, Tai Wen Kun may be translated "Prince-Parent". Born in Seoul on January 22, 1811. He died on February 22, 1898. He served as a Regent for King Ko Jong, his son, during the letter's minority. Tai Wen Kun was a man of strong nationalism and was extremely anti-foreign in his foreign policy. In 1886, Tai Wen Kun selected Queen Min as his daughter-in-law believing the Min family had no desire for political power in the court. He was only following the tradition of isolation­ ism which had been handed down ever since the virtual destruction of Korea by the Hideyoshi-led Japanese invasion of 1592-98. -5- —D— Through the Queen's influence, the Min faction came into power. With the utmost celerity, all government high positions were occupied by 2 members of the Min faction of their sympathizers. Tai Wen Kun had been obliged to witness impotently the changes that had taken place in the policy of his country, but had given up none of his old prejudices nor his confidence that Korea could still hold her own against the "barbarians of the West". The new departure was incredible to him; still more incredible to him was the Queen, who was mainly responsible for this departure and vAio had brought it about, not from any patriotic sense of the welfare of the country, but as a lever for procuring the favor of the King and acquiring office for the members of her own family-the Min.