How (and why) did Korea become a colony of Japan before WW2? -

Nearly all of my Korean ESL students are angry at Japan, and this is the reason they give. Previously, Korea was able to resist Japanese attempts to invade it, so what happened during the 20th century? Apparently there was no actual invasion, was there? So how did Korea s colonization come about?

Actually the policy was not a colonization, but an annexation (Japan referred the model from the Scotland in the UK). We have to start from knowing what kind of the era it was (from the late 1800 s/19th century.) And the US has a relation with this historic event. 1. It was an era that Great Powers were struggling for hegemony in Asian continent since the end of 19th century. http://www.book-of-thoth.com/thebook/ind... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concession_... Korean peninsula was in the north east of China continent and was just below of Russia. 2, Yi Joseon dynasty in Korea was a tributary state of Chinese dynasties for long time (more than 500 years) and they were taking Sadae attitude (Korean term, literally quot;Serving the greatquot; or quot;Rely on the greatquot;) and a tribute policy to China. Only Yangban (means 2 classes, scholar class and martial class) were rich but most Korean people were poor. 3. Nicholas II of Russia had quot;advance southwardquot; policy from the end of 1800 s to early 1900. Actually there were Russian army right above Manchuria, China. Manchuria is right above Korean peninsula and Russian land was right above Manchuria. 4. Japan sent many notice and letters to Yi Joseon dynasty that it was the era that western countries were advancing their troops and trying to expand their territories. But the Yanbang class (virtually a government) didn t take an action, and continue to send emissaries to Qing dynasty of China to ask what to do, and continued quot;closed doorquot; attitude to the world. 5. Japan thought the independence of Korea from China was very important for the peace and stability of East Asia. And Japan expected Korea to make stable nation by themselves. But they never moved. China was also didn t allow Korea take an action herself. 6. When Donghak Peasant Revolution occurred in Korean peninsula, both China and Japan sent military and fought. After this Japan fought China which was known as quot;First Sino-Japanese Warquot; in 1895. And Japan won it. 7. China signed quot;Treaty of Shimonosekiquot; and Japan let China admit the independence of Korea. The article says; ---------- # Article 1: China recognizes definitively the full and complete independence and autonomy of Korea, and, in consequence, the payment of tribute and the performance of ceremonies and formalities by Korea to China; in derogation of such, independence and autonomy shall wholly cease for the future. # Articles 2 amp; 3: China cedes to Japan in perpetuity and full sovereignty of the Pescadores group, the island of Formosa (Taiwan s old name) and the eastern portion of the bay of Liao-tung together with all fortifications, arsenals and public property. ---------- 8. Korea herself could build Korean Empire in 1897 and placed Emperor for the first time in their history (before that, China never allowed it). Japan expected Korea become stable nation but Korea faced lots faction-fighting (China faction and open-policy factions), civil conflicts, and economic declining. And also Japan worried and thought if Qing dynasty of China collapsed, East Asia would be a battle field of western countries + Russia . 9. Japan fought Russia, and won the war in 1905. Korea was in a mess at that time in both political and economical meaning. Japan assumed Korea herself won t be able to become an Independent nation anymore. 10. William Howard Taft of the U.S. and Prime Ministry Katsura of Japan signed Taft-Katsura Agreement. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taft-Katsur... This was the moment her (Korea s) fate was meant to be. 11. Qing dynasty was almost collapsed around 1900-1910, but Korea still relied on China and expected next dynasty arise soon. Japan let Russia admit the right and interest in the Korean peninsula to Japan. Korean Emperor claimed but Great Powers (Western countries) didn t admit Korea was an independent nation anymore. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hague_Secre... 12. Japan annexed Korea in 1910. But Japan didn t want make the land poor colony like the India for Briton or Indonesia for Dutch. Japan had already successed to modernized Taiwan since 1895. So Japan took the same plan and invested lots of money for Korean peninsula and created necessary infrastructures. 13. As a consequence, the economy stabilized and the population increased. See the pics of Japanese territories in East Asia. Korean peninsula (w/ ref books) http://www.geocities.com/kjpeninsula/ Taiwan http://www.flickr.com/photos/94337686@N0... Manchuria, China. http://www.flickr.com/photos/37332502@N0...

Oh yea there was an invasion. japan was imperialistic, korea was the hermit country. it happened, they invaded and tried to wipe out there culture koreans hate japs cuz they butally massacred them and sold them as sex slaves. bad history there.

they should be angry with the russians, during the the russian japanese war, russia lost and they had to give a stratigically important island to japan. then japan staged attacks without as much warning and won

Japan needed natural resources to fuel industrialization and expansion. Korea / Manchuria had natural resources. I assume you you know the rest.