THE ANNEXATION OF KOREA

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4299, 3 August 1921, Page 4

THE ANNEXATION OF KOREA

(By Frederick Stubbs, F.R.G.S.) The early history of the hermit kingdom appears to be obscure, but it is evident that Korea was intimately connected with China, and in the flftenth and sixteenth centuries came into collision with Japan, which even then was antagonistic to China. During the invasion under Hideyoshi in 1592, tens of thousands of Koreans were massacred in a horrible manner, cities and villages burned, every article of value looted, and the whole country devastated. A GRUESOME MONUMENT. I myself saw at Kyoto in Japan what is called The Earinound, a huge mound of earth beneath which lie buried over 200,000 human ears which were cut off, carried away from Korea, and buried on this spot —a gruesome monument of ruthless cruelty and slaughter. So unspeakably cruel was the invasion, that though 3330 years have passed away it is still remembered and spoken of with horror. HISTORY OF THE ANNEXATION. Korea was for centuries far ahead of Japan in civilisation. Japan owed her knowledge of writing and literature to Korea. Korean scholars, including hundreds of educated, refined women, entered Japan and taught. It is remarkable that for 500 years literature in Japan was almost monopolised by women. Japanese potteries and other arts owe their existence to Korean teachers. ' As late as the 18th century the Korean people were described as “of a sweet disposition, delighting in learning, music, dancing.” Theft and adultery were almost unknown, so that there was no need to shut the street doors at night. As late as 30 years ago, however, Korea was still a hermit kingdom, resolutely shut off from the outside world. Even Chinamen who crossed the Yalu River were beheaded. In the latter half of the 18th century some Korean scholars came under the influence of the Christian missionaries at Pekin and started a campaign for the conversion of their native country. They met, however, with bitter opposition and persecution. But various other efforts on the part of the Christian Church followed, until hi 1860 the native Christians numbered about 20,000. The Government of the day, however, determined to stamp Christianity out, and nearly succeeded in doing so. Then

the Christian Powers began to protest, and in this way became interested in the Korean kingdom. In the seventies a change began to take place in the relations of Korea with other countries, and the King favoured the admission of foreigners, but the Regent, an abler man, wag bitterly opposed to it. Then came a long struggle between these two, until China, as the Suzerain Power, had to interfere for the protection of foreigners. The Japanese also found an excuse for interference, and planted outposts throughout the country. In 1882 the country suffered from drought and famine, and the Regent seized the opportunity to Renounce the admission of foreigners as the. cause. Terrible massacres followed and some Japanese were killed, which again strengthened Japan’s hold on the country. To defend herself against the machinations of her neighbour, Korea made treaties with the European Powers, so in 1883-4, foreigners began to arrive, engaging in trade and missionary work on a large scale. Europeanisation began. Then in 1894 new troubles arose, popular risings and massacres took place, and both Japanese and Chinese troops poured into the country to protect the capital. On this occasion Japan definitely declined to recognise the sovereignty of China. The Chino-Japanese war ensued, with known results; China’s fleet was blown up, her army destroyed, Japan obtained undisputed possession of Seoul, and the King was held prisoner in his palace—Japan representing to the Powers that her occupation was only temporary and that she had no intention of intering with Korea’s independence! Nevertheless she took the administration into her own hands, and foolishly instituted sumptuary laws as to the size of men’s hats, the length of their hair, the length of sleeves, and even ordered the topknot (the Korean side of manhood) to be cut off. These tyrannical ordinances alienated and enraged the people, as perhaps they meant to do. Then in 1895 it became clear that Japan meant to absorb the commerce of Korea, obtaining monopolies against which foreign representatives protested in vain. The Japanese became violent, cheating, lying, insulting the people, beating them until the Japanese Minister, Count Inouye, himself protested.