History Journal Lesson - Advice to South Korean Leadership?

There was an interesting discussion on the KBS History Journal recently about the so called Treaty of Eulsa signed by representatives of the Chosun dynasty on Nov. 17, 1905 which established the "protectorate" status of Korea under the Japanese Imperial government. It appears that one of arguments that led to the treasonous signing of the agreement was that Korea should leave foreign policy to the rich and powerful countries.

The discussion among the South Korean historians gave the impression, they were trying to make a point here about the dangers of giving up foreign policy to foreign powers. This as Secretary Mike Pompeo and his special representive to "North Korea," Stephan Beigun, and their working group with South Korean officials, attempt to restrict South Korean policy initiatives toward North Korea. This is the so called "no daylight" approach. The US is clearly trying to take control of South Korean policy after being caught flat footed by President Moon Jae In's numerous initiatives, political, cultural, economic, and military with North Korea. Whether it should be called foreign policy as it pertains to North Korea, could be said to be a matter of perspective. According to Pompeo and Beigun, the South Koreans shouldn't "get ahead of the US." The South Koreans and the US should "speak with one voice." Further according to the unofficial but connected spokespeople from the ultra conservative think tanks who typically appear on VOA broadcasts to Korea, our ally can be subjected to secondary sanctions and the US can even walk away from the alliance.


(Source- KBS 1 History Journal, Episode 197 11.25 ) Han Kyu Seol, bottom far right, wears traditional Korean attire. He was the only hold out, who didn't succumb to the Japanese arguments, financial inducements or physical threats to give up Korean sovereignty. It was said that there were five Eulsa traitors, a sixth Korea official was persuaded to abandon opposition at the meeting with Ito Hirobumi, the seventh came around to the pro-Japanese position at later time. Han Kyu Seol, ultimately was the only steadfast opposition of the original group of Korean government officials. He was arrested immediately, and later stripped of his political position.


(Source- KBS 1 History Journal, Episode 197 11.25 )

This graphic represents the situation in 1905. England and Japan had a treaty in which Japan recognized UK rights in India and UK recognized Japan's dominance of Korea. This actually achieved Britain's goal of using Japan to check Russian power. US diplomats not only approved of the Portsmouth Treaty but negotiated secretly with with Japan to recognize Japan's status in Korea, and in exchange Japan would respect the US colonization of the Philippines in the Katsura- Taft agreement. Similar great power gamesmanship in Northeast Asia affects the treatment of the Koreas today as they jockey for position around the North Korean denuclearization issue.

The great powers bargained away Korea's sovereignty to Japan to serve their own imperial interests. Russia actually was the only power to resist the Japanese, but that was because they wanted to make Korea their sphere of influence. They lost the Russo-Japanese War and had to sign the Portsmouth Treaty in which Japan's dominance in Korea was acknowledged. In September 1905, King Gojong still thought the US might be of help to avoid the Japanese takeover of Korea when Alice Roosevelt visited Korea.


(Source- KBS 1 History Journal, Episode 197 11.25 ) Teddy Roosevelt's daughter Alice is the woman on the left, center. She was treated like a queen by the Korean Royal family while she was in Korea. In the background is Empress Meongseong's grave. The Korean queen was assassinated by the Japanese in her quarters in the Kyongbok palace October 8, 1895. King Gojong's message to the Americans about Japan fell on deaf ears.

The History Journal participants in the program did not refer to current affairs in the broadcast, this is the author's opinion of what the implicit message was. The historians only suggested that given the decades long awful sequelae for Korea of the so called Eulsa "Treaty," one should keep in mind it's principal lesson.