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122-941: After Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, the Japanese forced the Korean ministers to sign the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905 . As per the treaty, the Korean government disbanded the Navy and reduced the numbers of the Imperial Army's City Guards and the Garrison Guards. The total number of Garrison Guards was less than 3,000. Their ships, such as the Guangjae , transported coal from 1941 until Korea's independence from Japan. On July 31, 1907, when

244-734: A casus belli ." By 1898 they had acquired mining and forestry concessions near the Yalu and Tumen rivers, causing the Japanese much anxiety. Japan decided to attack before the Russians completed the Trans-Siberian Railway. The Russians and the Japanese both contributed troops to the Eight-Nation Alliance sent in 1900 to quell the Boxer Rebellion and to relieve the international legations besieged in

366-709: A sphere of influence in Korea and Manchuria. Seeing Russia as a rival, Japan offered to recognize Russian dominance in Manchuria in exchange for recognition of the Korean Empire as being within the Japanese sphere of influence. Russia refused and demanded the establishment of a neutral buffer zone between Russia and Japan in Korea, north of the 39th parallel . The Imperial Japanese Government perceived this as obstructing their plans for expansion into mainland Asia and chose to go to war. After negotiations broke down in 1904,

488-459: A "Korean military" during the Japanese colonial period. The Korean Empire's military was forcibly disbanded in 1907, and it was not until 1938 that the Japanese allowed Koreans to join the Japanese military. So, it is questionable whether there was a Korean unit in Seoul in 1931, unless it was an anti-Japanese independence army in Manchuria. It is said that the citizens, above all, missed the sound of

610-627: A Russian–German alliance emerged, France would be compelled to join it. He also hoped that having Russia pursue an expansionist policy in Asia would distract and keep Russia out of the Balkans, thus removing the main source of tension between Russia and Germany's ally Austria-Hungary . During the war, Nicholas, who took at face value Wilhelm's "Yellow Peril" speeches, placed much hope in German intervention on his side. More than once Nicholas chose to continue

732-503: A White Tsar!" Nevertheless, Tokyo believed that Russia was not serious about seeking a peaceful solution to the dispute. On 13 January 1904, Japan proposed a formula by which Manchuria would remain outside Japan's sphere of influence and, reciprocally, Korea outside Russia's. On 21 December 1903, the Katsura cabinet voted to go to war against Russia. By 4 February 1904, no formal reply had been received from Saint Petersburg. On 6 February

854-600: A bigger policy in the Far East that might lead to military complications (with the aim of relieving our eastern border from the fearful pressure and threat of the massive Russian army!). Whereupon, Russia took Port Arthur and trusting us , took her fleet out of the Baltic , thereby making herself vulnerable to us by sea. In Danzig 01 and Reval 02, the same assurance was given again, with result that entire Russian divisions from Poland and European Russia were and are being sent to

976-670: A campaign by Japanese intellectual Muneyoshi Yanagi The Government-General Building was officially completed ten years later on 1 October 1926, and the office of the governor-general was transferred there. Japanese rule in Korea ended upon the surrender of Japan in August 1945 and the United States occupied the territory of Korea south of the 38th parallel (including Seoul) where the United States Army Military Government in Korea (USAMGIK)

1098-575: A cause that resulted in humiliating defeat contributed to growing domestic unrest, which culminated in the 1905 Russian Revolution , and severely damaged the prestige of the Russian autocracy. After the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the Meiji government endeavoured to assimilate Western ideas, technological advances and ways of warfare. By the late 19th century, Japan had transformed itself into

1220-582: A coup in the Kingdom of Korea by a pro-Japanese reformist faction, which led to the conservative government calling upon China for help, leading to a clash between Chinese and Japanese soldiers in Seoul. At the time, Tokyo did not feel ready to risk a war with China, and the crisis was ended by the Convention of Tientsin , which left Korea more strongly in the Chinese sphere of influence, though it did give

1342-723: A cowardly and shameful way over the Panama Canal question, so as to be left in 'peace' by the Yankees. Will the 'Tsar' likewise betray the interests of the White Race to the Yellow as to be 'left in peace' and not embarrass the Hague tribunal too much?. When Nicholas replied that he still wanted peace, Wilhelm wrote back in a telegram "You innocent angel!", telling his advisors "This is the language of an innocent angel. But not that of

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1464-654: A deadly blow to British diplomacy, and that the two emperors, the self-proclaimed "Admiral of the Atlantic" and the "Admiral of the Pacific", would rule Eurasia together, making them able to challenge British sea power as the resources of Eurasia would make their empires immune to a British blockade, and thus allowing Germany and Russia to "divide up the best" of the British colonies in Asia between them. Nicholas had been prepared to compromise with Japan, but after receiving

1586-671: A death sentence for the bombing at the Daegu Branch of the Bank of Korea and Yang Geun-hwan, who was executed by beheading for assassinating a pro-Japanese official in 1921, were both former soldiers of the Joseon Infantry Division. As a result, there are several traces of attempts by the Japanese Governor-General of Chōsen to relocate the Joseon Infantry Division elsewhere. Particularly, as

1708-459: A half dozen Japanese divisions, led by competent, intrepid Japanese officers, full of hatred for Christianity – that is a vision of the future that cannot be contemplated without concern, and it is not impossible. On the contrary, it is the realisation of the yellow peril, which I described a few years ago and I was ridiculed by the majority of people for my graphic depiction of it ... Your devoted friend and cousin, Willy, Admiral of

1830-408: A letter from Wilhelm attacking him as a coward for his willingness to compromise with the Japanese (who, Wilhelm never ceasing reminding Nicholas, represented the "Yellow Peril") for the sake of peace, became more obstinate. Wilhelm had written to Nicholas stating that the question of Russian interests in Manchuria and Korea was beside the point, saying instead it was a matter of Russia: ...undertaking

1952-630: A letter to the British diplomat Cecil Spring Rice , Roosevelt wrote that Wilhelm bore partial responsibility for the war as "he has done all he could to bring it about", charging that Wilhelm's constant warnings about the "Yellow Peril" had made the Russians uninterested in compromise as Nicholas believed that Germany would intervene if Japan attacked. The implicit promise of German support suggested by Wilhelm's "Yellow Peril" speeches and letters to Nicholas led many decision-makers in Saint Petersburg to believe that Russia's military weaknesses in

2074-580: A modernized industrial state. The Japanese wanted to be recognized as equal with the Western powers. The Meiji Restoration had been intended to make Japan a modernized state, not a Westernized one, and Japan was an imperialist power, looking towards overseas expansionism. In the years 1869–1873, the Seikanron ("Conquer Korea Argument") had bitterly divided the Japanese elite: one faction wanted to conquer Korea immediately, another wanted to wait until Japan

2196-555: A new building with a budget of 260,000 won. The Japanese forcibly introduced the Cheshin Simplified Life Insurance from the new building. Until the fall of the Japanese Empire, about 11 million simple life insurance policies were sold semi-forcibly, mostly paid by ordinary citizens. The insurance company was in business until the collapse of the Japanese Empire. Under the agreement reached during

2318-516: A stage where the final issue can with certainty be predicted. In these circumstances the Japanese government cannot but regard with grave concern the situation for which the delays in negotiations are largely responsible. Some scholars have suggested that Nicholas II dragged Japan into war intentionally, in hopes of reviving Russian nationalism. This notion conflicts with a comment made by Nicholas to Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany, saying there would be no war because he "did not wish it". This does not reject

2440-672: Is seen by Russian reference to Japan's choosing war as a big mistake. Japanese General Government Building The Government-General of Chōsen Building ( Korean :  조선총독부 청사 ; RR :  Joseon-chongdokbu Cheongsa ), also known as the Japanese General Government Building and the Seoul Capitol , was a building located in Jongno District of Seoul , South Korea, from 1926 to 1996. The Government-General Building

2562-473: Is significant that ever since the Meiji period demands for a tough foreign policy have come from the common people, that is, from those who are at the receiving end of oppression at home. Tsarist Russia, as a major imperial power, had ambitions in the East. By the 1890s it had extended its realm across Central Asia to Afghanistan , absorbing local states in the process. The Russian Empire stretched from Poland in

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2684-656: The Gyeongbokgung Palace , the former royal palace complex of the Joseon dynasty, located north of central Seoul. The location was chosen to deliberately obstruct the view of Gyeongbokgung from central Seoul and to legimitize Japanese colonial rule. All but 10 of the 400 Gyeongbokgung palace buildings were demolished to make way for the construction of the Government-General Building and its grounds, and further demolitions were prevented only by

2806-550: The Imperial Japanese Navy opened hostilities in a surprise attack on the Russian Eastern Fleet at Port Arthur, China, on 9 February [ O.S. 27 January] 1904. The Russian Empire responded by declaring war on Japan. Although Russia suffered a number of defeats, Emperor Nicholas II remained convinced that Russia could still win if it fought on; he chose to remain engaged in

2928-789: The Liaodong Peninsula and nearly destroying the Chinese Beiyang Fleet in the Battle of the Yalu River . Japan and China signed the Treaty of Shimonoseki , which ceded the Liaodong Peninsula and the island of Taiwan to Japan. After the peace treaty, Russia, Germany, and France forced Japan to withdraw from the Liaodong Peninsula . The leaders of Japan did not feel that they possessed the strength to resist

3050-797: The Russian Pacific Fleet in the port. Russia's acquisition of Port Arthur was primarily an anti-British move to counter the British occupation of Wei-hai-Wei , but in Japan this was perceived as an anti-Japanese move. Germany occupied Jiaozhou Bay , built the Tsingtao fortress , and based the German East Asia Squadron in this port. Between 1897 and 1903, the Russians built the Chinese Eastern Railway (CER) in Manchuria. The Chinese Eastern Railroad

3172-577: The Treaty of Portsmouth (5 September [ O.S. 23 August] 1905), mediated by US President Theodore Roosevelt . The complete victory of the Japanese military surprised international observers and transformed the balance of power in both East Asia and Europe, resulting in Japan's emergence as a great power and a decline in the Russian Empire's prestige and influence in Europe. Russia's incurrence of substantial casualties and losses for

3294-668: The balance of power in Europe , as Wilhelm believed that any Russian entanglement with Japan would break up the Franco-Russian alliance and lead to Nicholas signing an alliance with Germany. This was especially the case as Germany had embarked upon the " Tirpitz Plan " and a policy of Weltpolitik (from 1897) meant to challenge Britain's position as the world's leading power. Since Britain was allied to Japan, if Germany could manipulate Russia and Japan into going to war with each other, this in turn would allegedly lead to Russia turning towards Germany. Furthermore, Wilhelm believed if

3416-699: The prime minister 's office. The Government-General Building was heavily damaged following the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950, when the forces of North Korea invaded South Korea across the 38th parallel, and the Korean People's Army briefly occupied the building as an army headquarters until United Nations forces recaptured Seoul in September 1950. The North Koreans set fire to the Government-General Building upon their retreat, completely destroying

3538-552: The " Yellow Peril " propaganda by the German government, and the German Emperor Wilhelm II ( r.  1888–1918 ) often wrote letters to his cousin Emperor Nicholas II of Russia, praising him as the "saviour of the white race" and urging Russia forward in Asia. From November 1894 onward, Wilhelm had been writing letters praising Nicholas as Europe's defender from the "Yellow Peril", assuring

3660-459: The " survival of the fittest " were common from the 1880s onward and many ordinary Japanese resented the heavy taxes imposed by the government to modernize Japan, demanding something tangible like an overseas colony as a reward for their sacrifices. Furthermore, the educational system of Meiji Japan was meant to train the schoolboys to be soldiers when they grew up, and as such, Japanese schools indoctrinated their students into Bushidō ("way of

3782-488: The "Great Qing Empire" – started to resemble more and more a Russian province. In December 1897, a Russian fleet appeared off Port Arthur. After three months, in 1898, China and Russia negotiated a convention by which China leased (to Russia) Port Arthur, Talienwan and the surrounding waters. The two parties further agreed that the convention could be extended by mutual agreement. The Russians clearly expected such an extension, for they lost no time in occupying

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3904-494: The "backwardness" of China and Korea was proof of the inferiority of those nations, thus giving the Japanese the "right" to conquer them. Count Inoue Kaoru , the foreign minister, gave a speech in 1887 saying "What we must do is to transform our empire and our people, make the empire like the countries of Europe and our people like the peoples of Europe," going on to say that the Chinese and Koreans had essentially forfeited their right to be independent by not modernizing. Much of

4026-464: The 'Emperor Gojong,' who could be considered their raison d'être, played a role in this decline. Furthermore, the situation was changing again with the recent passing of the Emperor Sunjong . The Dong-a Ilbo newspaper, in its May 19, 1926 issue, depicted the grim scene of the Joseon Infantry Division as follows: "Since the dissolution of the Korean military in the year of Eulsa, the existence of

4148-473: The Atlantic. Wilhelm aggressively encouraged Russia's ambitions in Asia because France, Russia's closest ally since 1894, was less than supportive of Russian expansionism in Asia, and it was believed in Berlin that German support of Russia might break up the Franco-Russian alliance and lead to a new German–Russian alliance. The French had made it clear that they disapproved of Nicholas's forward policy in Asia;

4270-405: The British meant, in part, that if any nation allied itself with Russia during any war against Japan, then Britain would enter the war on Japan's side. Russia could no longer count on receiving help from either Germany or France without the danger of British involvement in the war. With such an alliance, Japan felt free to commence hostilities if necessary. The 1890s and 1900s marked the height of

4392-538: The Chinese capital, Beijing. Russia had already sent 177,000 soldiers to Manchuria, nominally to protect its railways under construction. Though the Qing imperial army and the Boxer rebels united to fight against the invasion, they were quickly overrun and ejected from Manchuria. After the Boxer Rebellion, 100,000 Russian soldiers were stationed in Manchuria. The Russian troops settled in and despite assurances they would vacate

4514-548: The Far East (like the uncompleted Trans-Siberian railroad line) did not matter – they assumed that the Reich would come to Russia's assistance if war should come. In fact, neither Wilhelm nor his Chancellor Prince Bernhard von Bülow (in office: 1900–1909) had much interest in East Asia, and Wilhelm's letters to Nicholas praising him as Europe's saviour against the "Yellow Peril" were really meant to provoke change in

4636-431: The Far East. This would not had happened if our governments had not been in agreement! A recurring theme of Wilhelm's letters to Nicholas was that "Holy Russia" had been "chosen" by God to save the "entire white race" from the "Yellow Peril", and that Russia was "entitled" to annex all of Korea, Manchuria, and northern China up to Beijing. Wilhelm went on to assure Nicholas that once Russia had defeated Japan, this would be

4758-692: The French Premier Maurice Rouvier (in office: May to December 1887) publicly declaring that the Franco-Russian alliance applied only in Europe, not to Asia, and that France would remain neutral if Japan attacked Russia. The American president Theodore Roosevelt (in office 1901–1909), who was attempting to mediate the Russian–Japanese dispute, complained that Wilhelm's "Yellow Peril" propaganda, which strongly implied that Germany might go to war against Japan in support of Russia, encouraged Russian intransigence. On 24 July 1905, in

4880-552: The Government-General Building. On 25 May 1981, President Chun Doo-hwan gave instruction to move the National Museum of Korea to the Government-General Building. In 1982, the South Korean Government announced a moving plan to the people of Korea, and the project begun. After the last State Council meeting was held there on 19 May 1983, it underwent a period of refurbishment, reopening in August 1986 as

5002-584: The Japanese government had realised that Russia was not interested in settling the Manchurian or Korean issues. Instead, Russia's goal was buying time – via diplomacy – to further build up militarily. In December 1903, Wilhelm wrote in a marginal note on a diplomatic dispatch about his role in inflaming Russo-Japanese relations: Since 97 – Kiaochow – we have never left Russia in any doubt that we would cover her back in Europe, in case she decided to pursue

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5124-511: The Japanese minister in Saint Petersburg, was instructed to present his country's view opposing Russia's consolidation plans in Manchuria. On 3 August 1903 the Japanese minister handed in the following document to serve as the basis for further negotiations: On 3 October 1903 the Russian minister to Japan, Roman Rosen , presented to the Japanese government the Russian counter proposal as the basis of negotiations, as follows: During

5246-417: The Japanese minister to Russia, Kurino Shin'ichirō , was recalled, and Japan severed diplomatic relations with Russia. Potential diplomatic resolution of territorial concerns between Japan and Russia failed; historians have argued that this directly resulted from the actions of Emperor Nicholas II . Crucially, Nicholas mismanaged his government. Although certain scholars contend that the situation arose from

5368-536: The Japanese the right to intervene in Korea. All through the 1880s and early 1890s, the government in Tokyo was regularly criticized for not being aggressive enough in Korea, leading Japanese historian Masao Maruyama to write: Just as Japan was subject to pressure from the Great Powers, so she would apply pressure to still weaker countries – a clear case of the transfer psychology. In this regard it

5490-402: The Joseon Infantry Division evokes a sense of nostalgia for the once numerous Korean military that has disappeared. Russo-Japanese War 1,365,000 (total) 1,200,000 (total) Total: 43,300–71,453 dead Material losses: Total: 80,378–86,100 dead Material losses: Naval battles Land battles Taishō period Shōwa period The Russo-Japanese War

5612-466: The Joseon Infantry Division remains as a reminder to young citizens who are unaware of the past that there was once a military in Joseon. Their presence is no longer necessary. Discussions are underway between the government general and the military headquarters to reduce the current single battalion to a company of 50 members. Although the infantry division is equipped with uniforms, they carry unnecessary guns for combat and wear swords. The Joseon Infantry

5734-515: The Joseon Infantry Division, they lacked immediate tasks and faced increasingly difficult economic conditions, experiencing a severe recession in various aspects. However, one interesting point was that as the recession deepened, the popularity of the Joseon Infantry Division itself skyrocketed. The officials were caught up in a wave of financial constraints and salary reductions, and the situation became increasingly difficult, with many students unable to pay their tuition fees and dropping out midway. Even

5856-541: The Joseon Infantry Division, which would often drink in the streets of downtown and cause conflicts with the locals. The Joseon Infantry Division functioned as a subordinate organization under Japanese colonial rule. During the March 1st Movement in 1919, they blocked the crowds pushing towards Changdeokgung Palace. Although it also caused numerous grievances, it produced many independence activists. Jang Jin-hong, who committed suicide shortly before his execution after receiving

5978-652: The Korean Infantry Division. The citizens observed the disbandment of the Korean Infantry Division with mixed feelings. A sense of regret can be felt in a part of an article published in Dong-a Ilbo on November 9, 1930. "The peaceful army, the Korean Infantry Division, which had guns but never harmed people, and had ammunition cases but no bullets, will be disbanded... (omitted)... As the remains of Korean soldiers disappear from Korea and can only be found in foreign countries, should we shout 'Hurray' for

6100-589: The Korean capital city of Hansŏng (Seoul) as the colonial capital of Japanese Korea, renaming it to Keijō in Japanese and Kyŏngsŏng in Korean . In 1911, the Japanese decided to erect a new building in Seoul to house the new colonial administration under the governor-general of Korea . The Government-General Building was designed by architect Georg De Lalande in the Neoclassical style popular in Japan at

6222-560: The Korean military headquarters. Almost half of them had already returned to their hometowns along with their discharge, leaving behind only a few unemployed individuals. Various arrangements were made for them in different positions considering their unfavorable circumstances during the recession. Unemployed soldiers were specially hired as police or military police assistants. Some became executioners, prison guards, or tank commanders. In particular, around 50 individuals were recruited as executioners at Changdeokgung Palace Police Station, and it

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6344-478: The National Museum of Korea. The issue of the Government-General Building's future was opened after Kim Young-sam became president in 1993. In August of that year, President Kim announced that it would be demolished beginning in 1995, the 50th anniversary of the end of Japanese colonial rule and the 600th anniversary of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Plans were announced for a new National Museum to be built on

6466-545: The Prime Minister of Japan, Katsura Tarō (in office 1901–1906), decided if war did come, that Japan was more likely to have the support of the United States and Great Britain if the war could be presented as a struggle for free trade against the highly protectionist Russian empire, in which case, Manchuria, which was the larger market than Korea, was more likely to engage Anglo-American sympathies. Throughout

6588-403: The Russian legation in Seoul, believing that his life was in danger from Japanese agents, and Russian influence in Korea started to predominate. In the aftermath of the flight of the King, a popular uprising overthrew the pro-Japanese government and several cabinet ministers were lynched in the streets. In 1897, Russia occupied the Liaodong Peninsula, built the Port Arthur fortress, and based

6710-439: The Russian–Japanese talks, the Japanese historian Hirono Yoshihiko noted, "once negotiations commenced between Japan and Russia, Russia scaled back its demands and claims regarding Korea bit by bit, making a series of concessions that Japan regarded as serious compromises on Russia's part". The war might not have broken out had not the issues of Korea and Manchuria become linked. The Korean and Manchurian issues had become linked as

6832-473: The Tsar that God Himself had "chosen" Russia to defend Europe from the alleged Asian threat. On 1 November 1902 Wilhelm wrote to Nicholas that "certain symptoms in the East seem to show that Japan is becoming a rather restless customer" and "it is evident to every unbiased mind that Korea must and will be Russian". Wilhelm ended his letter with the warning that Japan and China would soon unite against Europe, writing: Twenty to thirty million Chinese, supported by

6954-431: The abdication of Emperor Sunjong in 1926, such discussions increased. As there was no longer a need to guard the palaces in Korea, it was proposed to abolish or downsize the Korean Infantry Division to a smaller unit. At the end of 1930, a decision was made. This coincided with the global Great Depression triggered by the significant stock market crash in New York in 1929. Without hesitation, the Japanese authorities disbanded

7076-405: The area after the crisis, by 1903 the Russians had not established a timetable for withdrawal and had actually strengthened their position in Manchuria. The Japanese statesman Itō Hirobumi started to negotiate with the Russians. He regarded Japan as too weak to evict the Russians militarily, so he proposed giving Russia control over Manchuria in exchange for Japanese control of northern Korea. Of

7198-454: The autocracy. The Japanese understanding of this can be seen in a telegram from Japanese minister of foreign affairs, Komura, to the minister to Russia, in which he stated: ...the Japanese government have at all times during the progress of the negotiations made it a special point to give prompt answers to all propositions of the Russian government. The negotiations have now been pending for no less than four months, and they have not yet reached

7320-403: The building housed government offices including that of the prime minister, until early 1980s when new quarters were constructed nearby. In 1968, the Western -style front gate was demolished for the reconstruction of Gwanghwamun , the main and largest gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace. In 1970, many government offices were moved to the newly constructed Central Government Complex located adjacent to

7442-445: The building was completely demolished. Today, the top of the dome and several other recognizable pieces of the building can be seen at the Independence Hall Museum in Cheonan , as part of a monument to commemorate the history behind the building and its demolition. The National Museum of Korea, which had no say in the debate, was evicted by the government to allow demolition of the Government-General Building to commense. Afterwards,

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7564-570: The building was long felt to be a symbol of Japanese imperialism and an impediment to the reconstruction of Gyeongbokgung. The Government-General Building was controversially planned for demolition in 1993, and was eventually demolished between 1995 and 1996. In 1910, Japanese colonization of Korea began when the Empire of Japan formally annexed the Korean Empire in the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty , ending over 500 years of Joseon rule and losing its sovereignty after five years of Japanese invasion and colonization. The Japanese established

7686-409: The cavalry unit was primarily due to the high cost. Following the death of Emperor Gojong in 1919, the size of the Joseon Infantry Division was reduced from a battalion to a company. There were only two lieutenant generals. The number of excessive generals compared to soldiers is always the same. Originally, after the merger, the cavalry and infantry divisions were established to maintain the dignity of

7808-427: The city. Additionally, the building itself was the site of important events such as the declaration of independence of South Korea. A proposal was made to move the Government-General Building to a new site, although this would have been far more expensive than demolition. Nevertheless, demolition began on South Korea's Liberation Day ( Gwangbokjeol ) on 15 August 1995, with the removal of the dome. On 13 November 1996,

7930-518: The claim that Russia played an aggressive role in the East, which it did; rather, it means that Russia unwisely calculated and supposed that Japan would not go to war against Russia's far larger and seemingly superior navy and army. Nicholas held the Japanese in contempt as "yellow monkeys", and he took for granted that the Japanese would simply yield in the face of Russia's superior power, which thus explains his unwillingness to compromise. Evidence of Russia's false sense of security and superiority to Japan

8052-521: The combined might of Russia, Germany and France, and so gave in to the ultimatum. At the same time, the Japanese did not abandon their attempts to force Korea into the Japanese sphere of influence. On 8 October 1895, Queen Min of Korea, the leader of the anti-Japanese and pro-Chinese faction at the Korean court was murdered by Japanese agents within the halls of the Gyeongbokgung palace, an act that backfired badly as it turned Korean public opinion against Japan. In early 1896, King Gojong of Korea fled to

8174-463: The completion of the newly constructed Japanese General Government Building inside Gyeongbokgung Palace approached, these movements were openly taking place. For example, an article titled "The Relocation of the Joseon Infantry Division, Increased Security Compared to Last Year" is preserved in the March 29, 1925 issue of the Maeil Shinbo newspaper. It states the following: "The Joseon Infantry Division has decided to relocate to another place due to

8296-445: The core unit responsible for guarding the Korean royal family and performing ceremonial duties. From the beginning, it was a military unit that was far removed from national consciousness and combat readiness. During the Japanese colonial rule, an army was created immediately after the Japanese Empire disbanded the Korean Empire in 1907 to protect the imperial family and calm the complaints of retired soldiers. The Joseon infantry patrols

8418-426: The country. His death incited the Korean Army to loot their armories, which the Japanese confiscated earlier, and fight against the Japanese army, beginning the Battle of Namdaemun . Still, the Japanese anticipated this and suppressed them after nearly four hours of fighting, in which 13 officers and 57 enlisted were killed. On August 30, 1907, many officers were removed from their positions. Emperor Sunjong incorporated

8540-425: The demolition countered that South Korea, now a wealthy nation, was no longer troubled by such symbolism and that reminders of the colonial era were needed. Many opposed the demolition on the grounds of the expense incurred and the architectural merit of the existing building, as other Japanese colonial-era buildings in Seoul, such as the old Seoul Station and Seoul Metropolitan Library , are considered landmarks of

8662-435: The destruction of the Government-General Annex in Gyeongbokgung Palace, and it is currently selecting a new site. The original purpose of the division was to protect the royal family, so it was considering a location near Changdeokgung Palace, but it has not yet made a decision. The vacant land within Seosomun seems to be the most promising option." However, this plan was not immediately implemented. At least until that time, it

8784-410: The determination of Nicholas II to use the war against Japan to spark a revival in Russian patriotism, no historical evidence supports this claim. The Tsar's advisors did not support the war, foreseeing problems in transporting troops and supplies from European Russia to the East. The Tsar himself repeatedly delayed negotiations with the Japanese government as he believed that he was protected by God and

8906-628: The elite who graduated from Keijō Imperial University struggled to find stable employment during those turbulent times. The era of the Great Depression was fast approaching, which was a decisive factor. Unemployment was a major issue for everyone. Given the circumstances, the Joseon Infantry Division, which guaranteed a minimum two-year term of service for young Koreans, was seen as a stable and attractive job. An article titled 'Unusual Phenomenon of Increasing Applicants in Recent Years'

9028-490: The end of January. The applicants were mostly young people from mountainous villages in Hamgyeong and Pyeongbuk and other rural areas. Although they received some education at regular schools or other educational institutions, they were considered relatively educated youth in rural areas. As the rural decline worsened, their lives became increasingly difficult, and they were reluctant to become middle-aged rural youth engaged in

9150-638: The five Genrō (elder statesmen) who made up the Meiji oligarchy, Itō Hirobumi and Count Inoue Kaoru opposed the idea of war against Russia on financial grounds, while Katsura Tarō , Komura Jutarō and Field Marshal Yamagata Aritomo favored war. Meanwhile, Japan and Britain had signed the Anglo-Japanese Alliance in 1902 – the British seeking to restrict naval competition by keeping the Russian Pacific seaports of Vladivostok and Port Arthur from their full use. Japan's alliance with

9272-493: The great rural development project. For some reason, they longed for urban life or a pathological desire to experience urban life. (Omitted) On the other hand, the soldiers who had completed their two-year service were reluctant to leave Seoul, thinking that only hardships awaited them if they returned to their hometowns. They predicted that there would be nothing but difficulties in their lives, and they thought that military life, where at least their daily necessities were guaranteed,

9394-416: The interior, and it was left abandoned and in a ruinous state, even after the war ended in 1953. The nationalistic President Rhee refused either to repair the building or reoccupy it, as its ruinous state was partly symbolic of the end of the Japanese occupation, but started using the remaining outdoor space as an outdoor music hall . The Government-General Building was survived to enjoy two more decades as

9516-404: The issue dividing Japan and Russia was Manchuria, and chose to pursue a policy of neutrality as the best way of preserving Korean independence as the crisis mounted. In a series of reports to Beijing, Hu Weide, the Chinese ambassador in Saint Petersburg from July 1902 to September 1907, looked closely at whether a Russian or a Japanese victory would be favourable to China, and argued that the latter

9638-462: The issue of control and influence over Korea under the rule of the Joseon dynasty. From the 1880s onward, there had been vigorous competition for influence in Korea between China and Japan. The Korean court was prone to factionalism, and at the time was badly divided between a reformist camp that was pro-Japanese and a more conservative faction that was pro-Chinese. In 1884, a pro-Japanese coup attempt

9760-487: The last closing of the peaceful army?" The decision to disband the Joseon Infantry Division was announced in January 1931. As colonial rulers, they faced the aftermath of the worldwide Great Depression, leading to personnel reductions, organizational downsizing, salary cuts, and other difficulties. Given the challenging situation they were already dealing with, they had no reason to maintain the Joseon Infantry Division, which

9882-535: The miniaturized army. After the disbandment, Kim Eung-seon, a senior officer, was recognized by the Japanese and promoted to colonel in the Imperial Japanese Army. He received a special gratuity of 2,970 yen, a particular retirement gratitude payment, and allowances totaling 8,926 won. Shortly thereafter, the commanding officers of the Joseon Infantry Division, who had aligned themselves with the Japanese army, were promoted and concurrently assigned to

10004-490: The morning bugle. The soldiers of the disbanded Korean Infantry Division, who used to start their daily routines at 7:30 a.m. to the sound of the bugle, suddenly became unemployed and took up positions as prisoners, penal officers, or assistant managers at the Keijō Electric Company . Interestingly, at the time of disbandment, 202 junior soldiers, two senior officers, and six senior non-commissioned officers were in

10126-664: The normalization of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Japan in 1965, the Cheshin Simplified Life Insurance was granted the site of the Korean Infantry Division. Cheongheondang, a Korean-style building used by the Joseon Infantry, was moved to Taereung Military Academy when the Government Complex was built in 1967. Today, the Government Complex Seoul is located on the site where the Joseon Infantry Division once stood. The presence of

10248-569: The pressure for Japan's wars from 1894 to 1941 came from the ordinary people, who demanded a "tough" foreign policy, and tended to engage in riots and assassination when foreign policy was perceived to be pusillanimous. Though the Meiji oligarchy refused to allow liberal democracy , they did seek to appropriate some of the demands of the "people's rights" movement by allowing an elected Imperial Diet in 1890 (with limited powers and an equally limited franchise) and by pursuing an aggressive foreign policy towards Korea. In 1884, Japan had encouraged

10370-453: The pressure for an aggressive foreign policy in Japan came from below, with the advocates of a "people's rights" movement calling for an elected parliament also favouring an ultra-nationalist line that took it for granted the Japanese had the "right" to annex Korea, as the "people's rights" movement was led by those who favoured invading Korea in the years 1869–1873. As part of the modernization process in Japan, social Darwinist ideas about

10492-702: The problem was the cost. Maintaining the Joseon Infantry Division cost around 200,000 won per year. Apart from the late Japanese colonial period, the division did not recruit Korean officers, so the officers of the Joseon Infantry Division were older and held higher ranks, resulting in higher salaries. In 1925, the salary breakdown included one lieutenant general, three colonels, three lieutenant colonels, four majors, three captains, two first lieutenants, two-second lieutenants, one non-commissioned officer of special duty, one warrant officer, 14 sergeants, and seven corporals. The enlisted soldiers were 28 first-class privates, 167 second-class privates, and 100 third-class privates. As

10614-613: The protection and defence of the White Race, and with it, Christian civilization, against the Yellow Race. And whatever the Japs are determined to ensure the domination of the Yellow Race in East Asia, to put themselves at its head and organise and lead it into battle against the White Race. That is the kernel of the situation, and therefore there can be very little doubt about where the sympathies of all half-way intelligent Europeans should lie. England betrayed Europe's interests to America in

10736-486: The railway stations . The Russians also began to make inroads into Korea. A large point of Russia's growing influence in Korea was Gojong's internal exile to the Russian legation . A pro-Russian cabinet emerged in the Korean Empire . In 1901, Tsar Nicholas II told Prince Henry of Prussia , "I do not want to seize Korea but under no circumstances can I allow Japan to become firmly established there. That will be

10858-658: The remaining soldiers into the Imperial Retinue Guard, which continued even after the annexation in 1910. After disbanding the central army in 1907, the provincial armies gradually separated. As a result, the provincial soldiers joined the Righteous Armies before the disbandment. However, amidst this situation, traces of the Korean military remained, mainly as the Imperial Guard (근위대). It was an attempt to "select those necessary for protecting

10980-633: The royal court" during the temporary dissolution of the military. The remaining Imperial Guard consisted of one battalion, with the Guards Infantry responsible for guarding the palace and the Guards Cavalry overseeing the duties of the palace's commander. After the dissolution, some cadets who studied abroad returned to Korea, and served under tight Japanese intervention and served under the Chosun Infantry. This organization remained

11102-402: The royal palaces. However, shortly after the merger, the cavalry division was disbanded. Consequently, any plans for the relocation of the infantry division (estimated cost of 400,000 yen) that were being considered have naturally fallen through. Although a small force, the Joseon Infantry Division recruits 50 to 80 new soldiers yearly. It was a time when there were no jobs of this kind, so there

11224-458: The same even after entering colonial rule. Just as the royal family, known as the Yi Family, was preserved despite the country's downfall, these units retained their existence, though their names were changed to Joseon Infantry Division and Joseon Cavalry Division. When the military was disbanded, unlike other units that resisted with weapons, this unit complied with the Japanese order, becoming

11346-491: The seat of government following Park Chung Hee 's 1961 May 16 coup , establishing the Supreme Council of National Reconstruction military government. On 22 November 1962, General Park carried out extensive repair and refurbishing work on the derelict Government-General Building to use it as much-needed offices for the central government. As a witness to the major political and social upheavals of modern Korean history,

11468-528: The seat of the National Assembly of South Korea and housing offices of the Government of South Korea until 1950 when it was damaged during the Korean War and intentionally left derelict . President Park Chung Hee restored the Government-General Building from 1962 for government functions until the early 1980s and housed the National Museum of South Korea from 1986. Until its demolition,

11590-558: The site. The Government-General Building had been subject to calls for demolition since the presidency of Rhee, almost immediately after the end of Japanese colonial rule. The Government-General Building's demolition proposal was controversial in South Korea and there was intense public debate on the issue. President Kim and proponents of the demolition argued that the building was a symbol of Japanese imperialism that had been built deliberately to deface Gyeongbokgung Palace. Opponents of

11712-414: The streets of Gwanghwamun in the morning, a specialty of Hanseong , along with memories of the old army. The Japanese authorities coveted the location of the Joseon Infantry Division. They wanted to evict the Joseon Infantry Division, which occupied the best site (the current location of the government office) in front of Gwanghwamun , the former Yukjo (六曺) Street. There were constant suggestions to relocate

11834-544: The struggle for national sovereignty was at its peak, the newly enthroned emperor issued a decree regarding the dissolution of the military. As a result, many generals dispersed instantly, and the Korean Empire became a "powerless" country. The army disbanded on August 1, 1907, as per the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907 . From midnight, it rained in Seoul. There was an order to gather in Namdaemun . In Namdaemun, Major Park Seung-hwan committed suicide out of guilt for not protecting

11956-852: The summer; Port Arthur , a naval base in Liaodong Province leased to Russia by the Qing dynasty of China from 1897, was operational year round. Russia had pursued an expansionist policy east of the Urals, in Siberia and the Far East , since the reign of Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century. Since the end of the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895, Japan had feared Russian encroachment would interfere with its plans to establish

12078-544: The territory and in fortifying Port Arthur, their sole warm-water port on the Pacific coast and of great strategic value. A year later, to consolidate their position, the Russians began to build a new railway from Harbin through Mukden to Port Arthur, the South Manchurian Railroad . The development of the railway became a contributory factor to the Boxer Rebellion , when Boxer forces burned

12200-407: The time. The new structure was a grey granite building with a copperplate dome . De Lalande, who was German and had lived in Japan since 1901, had designed numerous administrative buildings there until he died in 1914, and was succeeded on the project by Japanese architects Ichiro Nomura and Hirushi Kunieda. Construction of the Government-General Building began on 25 June 1916 inside the grounds of

12322-480: The war and await the outcomes of key naval battles. As hope of victory dissipated, he continued the war to preserve the dignity of Russia by averting a "humiliating peace". Russia ignored Japan's willingness early on to agree to an armistice and rejected the idea of bringing the dispute to the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague. After the decisive naval battle of Tsushima , the war was concluded with

12444-501: The war out of the belief that the Kaiser would come to his aid. Despite previous assurances that Russia would completely withdraw from Manchuria the forces it had sent to crush the Boxer Rebellion by 8 April 1903, that day passed with no reduction in Russian forces in that region. In Japan, university students demonstrated both against Russia and against their own government for not taking any action. On 28 July 1903 Kurino Shin'ichirō ,

12566-425: The war, Japanese propaganda presented the recurring theme of Japan as a "civilized" power (that supported free trade and would implicitly allow foreign businesses into the resource-rich region of Manchuria) vs. Russia the "uncivilized" power (that was protectionist and wanted to keep the riches of Manchuria all to itself). Emperor Gojong of Korea (King from 1864 to 1897, Emperor from 1897 to 1907) came to believe that

12688-470: The warrior"), the fierce code of the samurai. Having indoctrinated the younger generations into Bushidō , the Meiji elite found themselves faced with a people who clamored for war, and regarded diplomacy as a weakness. The British Japanologist Richard Storry wrote that the biggest misconception about Japan in the West was that the Japanese people were the "docile" instruments of the elite, when in fact much of

12810-761: The west to the Kamchatka Peninsula in the east. With its construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway to the port of Vladivostok, Russia hoped to further consolidate its influence and presence in the region. In the Tsushima incident of 1861 Russia had directly assaulted Japanese territory. The first major war the Empire of Japan fought following the Meiji Restoration was against China , from 1894 to 1895. The war revolved around

12932-731: Was a 10 to 1 competition to recruit soldiers. Although it was a highly educated army composed of graduates of ordinary schools or higher. According to an article published in the Dong-a Ilbo , a nationalist daily newspaper, in 1924: "The Chosun Infantry Division, where around 280 officers and soldiers are stationed, is recruiting about 80 new soldiers. The term of service is two years, and the qualifications are as follows: height of at least 5 feet 2 inches (approximately 158 cm), age between 18 and 30, and completion of an ordinary school education or equivalent. They had dwindled to 200-250 members, barely maintaining their presence. The departure of

13054-452: Was a military unit that could not shoot guns. The monthly salary for privates is 14 won , and room and board are provided. During a time when the monthly salary was 20 won, and there were no suitable occupations other than farming for those with average education, there was fierce competition for recruitment, with a ratio of 7 to 10 applicants per spot. They kept it alive to appease the imperial family and retired soldiers' dissatisfaction, but

13176-486: Was a period when the 'former' emperor they were supposed to protect was still alive. It is unclear whether this was the reason, but in any case, the Joseon Infantry Division remained in its place. After the Japanese dissolved the Korean Empire's military in 1907, the Chosun Infantry Division remained in the area of Seoul (then known as Keijō ) for 33 years. Although most people perceive it this way, it

13298-406: Was a unit composed entirely of Korean officers and soldiers funded by the colonial administration. At its inception, the Joseon Infantry Division had 837 personnel. It consisted of a Royal Guard Infantry Battalion with 644 members, a Royal Guard Cavalry Battalion with 92 members, and supporting institutions such as a non-commissioned officers' school and various administrative offices. The main force

13420-417: Was better. Many soldiers extended their service period for one or two years. Accordingly, the recruitment of new soldiers this year is expected to decrease slightly compared to previous years." However, even if a young person managed to be recruited into the Joseon Infantry Division, breaking through fierce competition then, they did not have the opportunity to complete the full two-year term of service. Since

13542-679: Was constructed by the Empire of Japan on the site of the Gyeongbokgung complex , the royal palace of the Joseon , and was the largest government building in East Asia . The Government-General Building served as the chief administrative building of Chōsen and the seat of its governor-general in Keijō from 1926 until 1945. The Government-General Building was the scene of numerous important events after South Korean independence in 1948, becoming

13664-484: Was established. The US occupation government renamed the Government-General Building to Capitol Hall, and it became internationally known as the Seoul Capitol. On 31 May 1948, the Government-General Building became the seat of South Korea's constitutional assembly , the precursor to the National Assembly of South Korea . On 24 July, the swearing in ceremony of Syngman Rhee as the first president of South Korea

13786-826: Was fought between the Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan during 1904 and 1905 over rival imperial ambitions in Manchuria and the Korean Empire . The major theatres of military operations were in the Liaodong Peninsula and Mukden in Southern Manchuria, the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan . Russia sought a warm-water port on the Pacific Ocean both for its navy and for maritime trade. Vladivostok remained ice-free and operational only during

13908-457: Was further modernized before embarking on a war to conquer Korea; significantly, no one in the Japanese elite ever accepted the idea that the Koreans had the right to be independent, with only the question of timing dividing the two factions. In much the same way that Europeans used the "backwardness" of African and Asian nations as a reason for why they had to conquer them, for the Japanese elite

14030-532: Was held in front of the Government-General Building. On 15 August, the inauguration of the First Republic of Korea (South Korea) occurred at the Government-General Building following the official transfer of power from the USAMGIK to the Government of South Korea , becoming the first seat of National Assembly, and was occupied by a variety of government offices. The Japanese governor-general's office became

14152-409: Was like an unnecessary burden. Having carried the legacy of the Korean military, the Joseon Infantry Division concluded its poignant journey that lasted for over 20 years with a dissolution ceremony on April 8, 1931. On April 8, 1931, at 10 a.m., a group of about 200 troops held a disbandment ceremony the current government at Gukyo Street, Gwanghwamun, Seoul. Most people are surprised at the mention of

14274-549: Was owned jointly by the Russian and Chinese governments, but the company's management was entirely Russian, the line was built to the Russian gauge and Russian troops were stationed in Manchuria to protect rail traffic on the CER from bandit attacks. The headquarters of the CER company was located in the new Russian-built city of Harbin , the "Moscow of the Orient". From 1897 onwards, Manchuria – while still nominally part of

14396-425: Was preferable, as he maintained a Japanese victory presented the better chance for China to regain sovereignty over Manchuria. In December 1903 China decided to remain neutral if war came, because though Japan was the only power capable of evicting Russia from Manchuria, the extent of Japanese ambitions in Manchuria was not clear to Beijing. Russian–Japanese negotiations then followed, although by early January 1904

14518-571: Was published in the Maeil Shinbo newspaper on February 14, 1930. "The story of how extreme rural decline turned some rural youth into urban longing patients! Every year, the Joseon Infantry Division recruits 70 to 80 new soldiers from all over Korea for two years of military training. As the enlistment period for new soldiers drew closer this year, the recruitment advertisement exceeded the recruitment quota of 800 people tenfold, so we had to send notices to various provincial military headquarters by

14640-678: Was put down by Chinese troops, and a "residency" under General Yuan Shikai was established in Seoul. A peasant rebellion led by the Tonghak religious movement led to a request by the Korean government for the Qing dynasty to send in troops to stabilize the country. The Empire of Japan responded by sending their own force to Korea to crush the Tonghak and installed a puppet government in Seoul . China objected and war ensued. Hostilities proved brief, with Japanese ground troops routing Chinese forces on

14762-697: Was reported that some were appointed as local executioners. The division, which had even the slightest traces of Joseon, was transformed into the main body of the Japanese Empire. Another predatory organization took over the Joseon Infantry Headquarters. The Inspection Department and the Insurance Operations Department of the Cheshin Nation Life Insurance Company moved into the location across from Gwanghwamun, constructing

14884-418: Was the 2nd Battalion of the former Korean Empire's military. After the annexation by Japan in 1910, the unit's strength further diminished. The term "Royal Guard" (근위) was removed from the unit's name, which previously indicated protection of the emperor or king from a close distance. The Joseon Cavalry Division, which was at the battalion level, quietly disappeared around 1913. The reason for the disappearance of

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