Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty

General power of attorney to Lee Wan-Yong signed and sealed by the last emperor, Sunjong of Korean Empire (Lee Cheok, 이척 李坧) upon compulsion in effect on August 22, 1910 (隆熙4年). Traditionally, the Korean monarch did not sign official documents with his name. In the situation which Japan held hegomony in Korea, the Korean Emperor was forced to follow new Japanese customs which originated in the Western World.^[1] You can find the last emperor's first name(坧) above.

The Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty was signed on August 22, 1910 by the representatives of the Korean and Japanese Imperial Governments, and was proclaimed to the public (and became effective) on August 29, officially starting the period of Japanese rule in Korea. The treaty had eight articles, the first being: "His Majesty the Emperor of Korea makes the complete and permanent cession to His Majesty the Emperor of Japan of all rights of sovereignty over the whole of Korea."

In modern Korea, the treaty is also commonly called "Hanil Hapbang Neugyak (한일 합방 늑약)," which simply means a coerced (and hence invalid) treaty ("neugyak") of Korea's annexation to Japan. The event itself is also called "Gyeongsul Gukchi (경술국치 庚戌國恥)," which means "the humiliation of the nation in 1910." The day it happened, August 29, is remembered today as "Gukchi-il (국치일)," that is, "the day of national shame."

Legality

The legality of the Treaty was disputed by the exiled Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea as well as the modern Republic of Korea; a position which was also adopted later by the Allied forces that occupied the Empire of Japan after World War II. While the treaty was affixed with the national seal of the Korean Empire, Emperor Sunjong of Korea, refused to sign the treaty as required under Korean law. The treaty was instead signed by Prime Minister Lee Wan-Yong of Korea and Resident General Count Terauchi Masatake of Japan.

The 1965 Treaty of Basic Relations between South Korea and Japan declared that

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.

Due to ambiguities in the wording in the Japanese language, Japan interprets the above clause to mean that the 1910 Treaty was still valid until the signing of the 1965 Treaty, whereas both South and North Korea interpret the clause to mean the treaty was already null and void at the surrender of Japan, an interpretation which is upheld in the English text, of which the final paragraph of the 1965 Treaty agrees should be used in case of any conflict of interpretation.^[2]

See also

Wikisource has original text related to this article: Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty

• Annexation
• Eulsa Treaty
• Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty of 1907
• Unequal Treaties
• List of Korea-related topics
• Korea under Japanese rule

References

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. 

External links

• Japan – Korea Annexation Treaty (English)