Modern Korean Japanese Relations

MIDTERM 2025_1

The San Francisco Peace Treaty

A treaty signed in 1951 that officially ended WWII with Japan, excluding certain nations and establishing political relationships.

The Treaty on Basic Relations between Korea and Japan

A treaty signed in 1965 that normalized diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and Japan.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi attempts two invasions of Joseon (Korea), primarily as a passageway to conquer China.

Late 16th Century

The first Hideyoshi invasion of Korea begins, involving around 150,000 Japanese forces. It is partially thwarted by Admiral Yi Sun-shin and his "turtle ship."

1592

Toyotomi Hideyoshi dies. The first Hideyoshi invasion ends.

1598

Tokugawa Ieyasu becomes shogun after the Battle of Sekigahara.

1600

The "Chronicles of Japan" (Nihon Shoki) are written by Japanese Court Historians. They contain narratives of Japanese rule over Korea in ancient times.

17th-Early 8th Century AD

According to the Nihon Shoki, a Japanese colony called Mimana existed on the Korean peninsula.

3rd-6th Centuries AD

Legendary Empress Jingū of Japan allegedly conquered a "promised land" in Korea.

3rd Century AD

The "Horse Riders Theory" suggests that horse riders from continental Northeast Asia crossed over to establish the unified state of Yamato in Japan.

4th Century AD

Japan claims to have established sovereignty over Takeshima (Dokdo) through the fishing activities of merchants from Yonago.

Mid-17th Century (Early Edo Period)

Lord Napier leads a British Trade Mission to Canton (Guangzhou) in China.

1834

Chinese official Lin Zexu is appointed Imperial Commissioner in Guangzhou and takes action against the opium trade.

1838

Lin Zexu confiscates and destroys a large quantity of opium in Canton. This action leads to the First Opium War.

1839

The First Opium War between China and Britain takes place.

1839-1842

The Treaty of Nanking is signed, ending the First Opium War. It cedes Hong Kong Island to Britain, opens five treaty ports, establishes a fixed tariff rate, includes a most-favored-nation clause and extraterritoriality.

August 29, 1842

Commodore Matthew Perry "opens up" Japan to the West, triggering major societal transformations.

1854

The Second Opium War takes place between China and Britain/France.

1856-1860

The first phase of the Second Opium War ends with the signing of the four Treaties of Tientsin, involving Britain, France, Russia, and the US.

1858

The Convention of Peking is signed, ending the Second Opium War. It legalizes the opium trade, opens more ports, grants the right to establish diplomatic legations in Beijing, and allows free navigation on the Yangtze River and free travel in the interior.

October 18, 1860

The Meiji Restoration in Japan restores practical imperial rule under Emperor Meiji, ending the Tokugawa Shogunate. Japan begins a period of rapid industrialization, militarization, and modernization.

1868

The Meiji Restoration adopts the prefectural system, ending the Daimyo era.

1871

The Kanghwa Treaty is signed between Japan and Korea, opening up Korea and emphasizing its status as a "free nation" to detach it from China.

1876

The Imogunran (military revolt) occurs in Korea, involving Chinese troops and Japanese soldiers.

1882

The Kapsinjŏngbyŏn (political coup attempt) occurs in Korea, involving Chinese troops and Japanese soldiers.

1884

The Tientsin Convention is signed between Japan (Itō Hirobumi) and China (Li Hongzhang) following the domestic turmoil in Korea.

April 1885

The First Sino-Japanese War takes place, primarily over supremacy in Korea. Japan emerges victorious.

1894-1895

The First Sino-Japanese War begins following the Donghak Rebellion in Korea.

July 25, 1894

Queen Min of Korea is assassinated by Japanese agents led by Miura Goro. This is known as the Eulmi Incident.

October 8, 1895

The Treaty of Shimonoseki is signed, ending the First Sino-Japanese War. Japan's victory leads to its next target being Russia.

April 1895

King Kojong of Korea takes refuge in the Russian Legation following the assassination of Queen Min.

February 11, 1896 - February 20, 1897

The Nishi-Rosen Agreement is signed in Tokyo between Japan and Russia, agreeing to refrain from interfering in domestic Korean politics.

April 25, 1898

The Russo-Japanese War takes place, stemming from competing Japanese and Russian expansionist designs in Korea and Manchuria.

1904-1905

Japan strikes Port Arthur, initiating the Russo-Japanese War.

February 8-9, 1904

The Treaty of Portsmouth is signed, ending the Russo-Japanese War. Russia recognizes Korea as part of the Japanese sphere of influence.

September 5, 1905

Korea becomes a Japanese protectorate (while still officially the Joseon Dynasty). The Taft-Katsura Agreement is signed between the US and Japan.

1905

King Kojong is forced to abdicate following the Hague Secret Emissary Affair.

1907

Japan formally annexes Korea.

1910

The March 1st Independence Movement takes place in Korea.

1919

Japan takes over Manchuria in Northern China (Mukden Incident).

September 18, 1931

The Marco Polo Bridge Incident occurs, leading to a full-scale war between China and Japan.

July 7, 1937

Japan introduces the National Mobilization Law and begins conscripting Koreans for labor.

1939

The US stops selling iron, coal, and copper to Japan.

1940

The US stops selling oil to Japan. Japan prepares to attack Pearl Harbor.

1941

General Tojo Hideki becomes Prime Minister of Japan.

October 18, 1941

Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, drawing the US into World War II.

December 7, 1941

The US declares war on Japan.

December 8, 1941

The US drops the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

August 6, 1945

The US drops the second atomic bomb on Nagasaki. The Soviet Union declares war on Japan and invades parts of Northeast Asia, including northern Korea.

August 9, 1945

US Army staff define the 38th parallel as the American occupation zone in Korea to limit Soviet advance.

August 10, 1945

Japanese Emperor Hirohito announces Japan's surrender.

August 14, 1945

World War II officially ends with Japan's surrender. Korea is liberated but divided at the 38th parallel.

August 15, 1945

The US military government occupies South Korea. General Douglas MacArthur heads the military government in Japan.

1945-1948

The Moscow Conference agrees to a five-year trusteeship over Korea by the Soviet Union, the US, the ROC, and Britain.

December 1945

A Soviet-US Joint Commission meets to work out a unified Korean government but makes no progress due to deepening schisms.

1946-1947

SCAPIN 677 is issued, specifying that Dokdo is not part of Japanese territory.

January 29, 1946

The Alien Registration Ordinance is enacted in Japan, treating Koreans and Taiwanese as foreign nationals.

May 2, 1947

The US turns the Korean issue over to the United Nations after the failure of the Joint Commission.

September 1947

The UN passes a resolution calling for free elections, withdrawal of foreign troops, and the creation of the United Nations Temporary Commission on Korea (UNTCOK).

November 1947

General elections are held in South Korea under UN supervision (boycotted by the Soviet Union).

May 10, 1948

The Republic of Korea (ROK) is established in South Korea, with Syngman Rhee as the first president.

August 15, 1948

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is established in North Korea, with Kim Il-sung as Premier.

September 9, 1948

The UN General Assembly declares the ROK the "only lawful government in Korea."

December 12, 1948

North Korea invades South Korea, starting the Korean War.

June 25, 1950

A Korea-Japan 'Preliminary Meeting' takes place in the aftermath of the San Francisco Peace Treaty signing.

October 20, 1951

The San Francisco Peace Treaty (SFPT) is signed, officially ending WWII with Japan (excluding some nations like the ROC and ROK). The US-Japan Security Treaty is also signed.

September 8, 1951

Syngman Rhee declares the "Peace Line" in a move to replace the MacArthur Line.

January 18, 1952

The 1st Round of Korea-Japan Talks begins.

February 15, 1952

The San Francisco Peace Treaty becomes effective. Japan regains its sovereignty. The US-Japan Security Treaty also becomes effective. The Treaty of Taipei (Sino-Japan Peace Treaty) is signed between Japan and the ROC.

April 28, 1952

Syngman Rhee and Shigeru Yoshida meet, known for the "Tiger Dialogue."

January 5, 1953

The 2nd Round of Korea-Japan Talks takes place.

April 15, 1953

The Korean War Armistice Treaty is signed, creating a stalemate and perpetuating the division of Korea.

July 27, 1953

The 3rd Round of Korea-Japan Talks takes place, marked by controversial remarks from Japanese Chief Delegate Kubota Kanichirō.

October 1953

Japan proposes taking the Tokdo/Takeshima issue to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

September 1954

Korea-Japan talks resume after a period of severance following the 3rd Round.

March 1958

The Treaty on Basic Relations between the Republic of Korea and Japan is signed, normalizing relations after 14 years of negotiation.

1965

The Treaties of normalization of relation between Korea and Japan are signed.

December 18, 1965

The Japan-China Joint Communiqué is issued, leading to the abrogation of the Treaty of Taipei and normalization of relations between Japan and the PRC.

1972

Kaifu Toshiki visits Korea, the second Japanese prime minister to do so and the first to visit Pagoda Park.

1991

Czech Republic is expelled from the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) in the Korean DMZ by the DPRK.

1993

Poland is expelled from the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) in the Korean DMZ by the DPRK.

1995

Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) are a relevant issue in Korea-Japan relations.

1998

Marks the 60th anniversary of the Treaties of normalization between Korea and Japan.

2025

Dean Acheson

U.S. Secretary of State during the Korean War, known for his containment policy and speeches advocating for American intervention in Asia.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi

(1537-1598) A powerful Japanese Daimyo and general of Oda Nobunaga. He succeeded Nobunaga and unified Japan, then launched two invasions of Korea in the late 16th century with the aim of conquering China.

Admiral Yi Sun-shin

(1545-1598) A Korean naval commander during the Joseon Dynasty. He is famous for his victories against the Japanese navy during Hideyoshi's invasions, particularly for his innovative use of the "turtle ship."

Tokugawa Ieyasu

(1543-1616) Founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan. He rose to power after the death of Hideyoshi and unified Japan under his rule following the Battle of Sekigahara.

Empress Jingū

A legendary Japanese empress mentioned in the Nihon Shoki who is said to have conquered a "promised land" in Korea in the 3rd century. Her story was later used to legitimize Japanese claims over Korea.

Egami Namio

(1906-2002) A famous Japanese archaeologist who propounded the "Horse-rider Invasion Theory" in 1948, suggesting that Japan's unified state in the 5th century was established by horse-riding invaders from continental Northeast Asia.

Lord Napier

(1786-1834) The first Chief Superintendent of Trade at Canton (Guangzhou) for Britain. His actions regarding the opium trade contributed to the outbreak of the First Opium War.

Lin Zexu

(1785-1850) A Chinese official appointed as Imperial Commissioner in Guangzhou in 1838. His efforts to suppress the opium trade led to the confiscation and destruction of opium, triggering the First Opium War.

Commodore Matthew Perry

(1794-1858) An American naval officer who led a squadron of US Navy ships to Japan in 1854, effectively ending Japan's isolationist policy and "opening up" the country to the West.

Emperor Meiji

(1852-1912) The 122nd Emperor of Japan, who reigned during the Meiji Restoration. He was a symbolic figurehead for the rapid modernization and industrialization of Japan.

Taewŏngun

(1823-1898) "Prince of the Great Court," a title bestowed on the father of the reigning monarch in Joseon Korea. He was a staunch isolationist figure during the 19th century.

King Kojong

(1852-1919) The 26th King of the Joseon Dynasty and the first Emperor of the Korean Empire (Daehan Jeguk). His reign saw increasing foreign influence and the eventual annexation of Korea by Japan.

Yi Jun, Yi Sang-sŏl, and Yi Wi-jong

Korean emissaries sent to the Hague in 1907 to protest Japan's actions in Korea and seek international support for Korean independence.

Itō Hirobumi

(1841-1909) A prominent Japanese statesman and four-time Prime Minister of Japan. He played a key role in the Meiji Restoration and Japan's expansionist policies, including the Tientsin Convention. He later became the first Resident-General of Korea.

Li Hongzhang

(1823-1901) A leading Chinese statesman of the late Qing Dynasty. He signed the Tientsin Convention with Itō Hirobumi on behalf of China.

Empress Myŏngsŏng (Queen Min)

(1851-1895) The wife of King Kojong of Korea. She was an influential figure who resisted Japanese influence and sought support from other foreign powers, leading to her assassination by Japanese agents.

Miura Goro

(1847-1926) A Japanese diplomat and military officer who served as Japan's resident minister in Korea from September 1895. He orchestrated the assassination of Queen Min.