Modern Korean Japanese Relations

TIMELINE

Detailed Timeline of Main Events


  • Late 16th Century: Toyotomi Hideyoshi attempts two invasions of Joseon (Korea), primarily as a passageway to conquer China.

  • 1592: 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."

  • 1598: Toyotomi Hideyoshi dies. The first Hideyoshi invasion ends.

  • 1600: Tokugawa Ieyasu becomes shogun after the Battle of Sekigahara.

  • 17th-Early 8th Century AD: The "Chronicles of Japan" (Nihon Shoki) are written by Japanese Court Historians. They contain narratives of Japanese rule over Korea in ancient times.

  • 3rd-6th Centuries AD: According to the Nihon Shoki, a Japanese colony called Mimana existed on the Korean peninsula.

  • 3rd Century AD: Legendary Empress Jingū of Japan allegedly conquered a "promised land" in Korea.

  • 4th 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.

  • Mid-17th Century (Early Edo Period): Japan claims to have established sovereignty over Takeshima (Dokdo) through the fishing activities of merchants from Yonago.

  • 1834: Lord Napier leads a British Trade Mission to Canton (Guangzhou) in China.

  • 1838: Chinese official Lin Zexu is appointed Imperial Commissioner in Guangzhou and takes action against the opium trade.

  • 1839: Lin Zexu confiscates and destroys a large quantity of opium in Canton. This action leads to the First Opium War.

  • 1839-1842: The First Opium War between China and Britain takes place.

  • August 29, 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.

  • 1854: Commodore Matthew Perry "opens up" Japan to the West, triggering major societal transformations.

  • 1856-1860: The Second Opium War takes place between China and Britain/France.

  • 1858: 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.

  • October 18, 1860: 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.

  • 1868: 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.

  • 1871: The Meiji Restoration adopts the prefectural system, ending the Daimyo era.

  • 1876: 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.

  • 1882: The Imogunran (military revolt) occurs in Korea, involving Chinese troops and Japanese soldiers.

  • 1884: The Kapsinjŏngbyŏn (political coup attempt) occurs in Korea, involving Chinese troops and Japanese soldiers.

  • April 1885: The Tientsin Convention is signed between Japan (Itō Hirobumi) and China (Li Hongzhang) following the domestic turmoil in Korea.

  • 1894-1895: The First Sino-Japanese War takes place, primarily over supremacy in Korea. Japan emerges victorious.

  • July 25, 1894: The First Sino-Japanese War begins following the Donghak Rebellion in Korea.

  • October 8, 1895: Queen Min of Korea is assassinated by Japanese agents led by Miura Goro. This is known as the Eulmi Incident.

  • April 1895: The Treaty of Shimonoseki is signed, ending the First Sino-Japanese War. Japan's victory leads to its next target being Russia.

  • February 11, 1896 - February 20, 1897: King Kojong of Korea takes refuge in the Russian Legation following the assassination of Queen Min.

  • April 25, 1898: The Nishi-Rosen Agreement is signed in Tokyo between Japan and Russia, agreeing to refrain from interfering in domestic Korean politics.

  • 1904-1905: The Russo-Japanese War takes place, stemming from competing Japanese and Russian expansionist designs in Korea and Manchuria.

  • February 8-9, 1904: Japan strikes Port Arthur, initiating the Russo-Japanese War.

  • September 5, 1905: The Treaty of Portsmouth is signed, ending the Russo-Japanese War. Russia recognizes Korea as part of the Japanese sphere of influence.

  • 1905: Korea becomes a Japanese protectorate (while still officially the Joseon Dynasty). The Taft-Katsura Agreement is signed between the US and Japan.

  • 1907: King Kojong is forced to abdicate following the Hague Secret Emissary Affair.

  • 1910: Japan formally annexes Korea.

  • 1919: The March 1st Independence Movement takes place in Korea.

  • September 18, 1931: Japan takes over Manchuria in Northern China (Mukden Incident).

  • July 7, 1937: The Marco Polo Bridge Incident occurs, leading to a full-scale war between China and Japan.

  • 1939: Japan introduces the National Mobilization Law and begins conscripting Koreans for labor.

  • 1940: The US stops selling iron, coal, and copper to Japan.

  • 1941: The US stops selling oil to Japan. Japan prepares to attack Pearl Harbor.

  • October 18, 1941: General Tojo Hideki becomes Prime Minister of Japan.

  • December 7, 1941: Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, drawing the US into World War II.

  • December 8, 1941: The US declares war on Japan.

  • August 6, 1945: The US drops the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

  • August 9, 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 10, 1945: US Army staff define the 38th parallel as the American occupation zone in Korea to limit Soviet advance.

  • August 14, 1945: Japanese Emperor Hirohito announces Japan's surrender.

  • August 15, 1945: World War II officially ends with Japan's surrender. Korea is liberated but divided at the 38th parallel.

  • 1945-1948: The US military government occupies South Korea. General Douglas MacArthur heads the military government in Japan.

  • December 1945: The Moscow Conference agrees to a five-year trusteeship over Korea by the Soviet Union, the US, the ROC, and Britain.

  • 1946-1947: A Soviet-US Joint Commission meets to work out a unified Korean government but makes no progress due to deepening schisms.

  • January 29, 1946: SCAPIN 677 is issued, specifying that Dokdo is not part of Japanese territory.

  • May 2, 1947: The Alien Registration Ordinance is enacted in Japan, treating Koreans and Taiwanese as foreign nationals.

  • September 1947: The US turns the Korean issue over to the United Nations after the failure of the Joint Commission.

  • November 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).

  • May 10, 1948: General elections are held in South Korea under UN supervision (boycotted by the Soviet Union).

  • August 15, 1948: The Republic of Korea (ROK) is established in South Korea, with Syngman Rhee as the first president.

  • September 9, 1948: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is established in North Korea, with Kim Il-sung as Premier.

  • December 12, 1948: The UN General Assembly declares the ROK the "only lawful government in Korea."

  • June 25, 1950: North Korea invades South Korea, starting the Korean War.

  • October 20, 1951: A Korea-Japan 'Preliminary Meeting' takes place in the aftermath of the San Francisco Peace Treaty signing.

  • September 8, 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.

  • January 18, 1952: Syngman Rhee declares the "Peace Line" in a move to replace the MacArthur Line.

  • February 15, 1952: The 1st Round of Korea-Japan Talks begins.

  • April 28, 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.

  • January 5, 1953: Syngman Rhee and Shigeru Yoshida meet, known for the "Tiger Dialogue."

  • April 15, 1953: The 2nd Round of Korea-Japan Talks takes place.

  • July 27, 1953: The Korean War Armistice Treaty is signed, creating a stalemate and perpetuating the division of Korea.

  • October 1953: The 3rd Round of Korea-Japan Talks takes place, marked by controversial remarks from Japanese Chief Delegate Kubota Kanichirō.

  • September 1954: Japan proposes taking the Tokdo/Takeshima issue to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

  • March 1958: Korea-Japan talks resume after a period of severance following the 3rd Round.

  • 1965: The Treaty on Basic Relations between the Republic of Korea and Japan is signed, normalizing relations after 14 years of negotiation.

  • December 18, 1965: The Treaties of normalization of relation between Korea and Japan are signed.

  • 1972: 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.

  • 1991: Kaifu Toshiki visits Korea, the second Japanese prime minister to do so and the first to visit Pagoda Park.

  • 1993: Czech Republic is expelled from the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) in the Korean DMZ by the DPRK.

  • 1995: Poland is expelled from the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) in the Korean DMZ by the DPRK.

  • 1998: Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) are a relevant issue in Korea-Japan relations.

  • 2025: Marks the 60th anniversary of the Treaties of normalization between Korea and Japan.

KEY CHARACTERS

  • Dean Acheson: 

  • 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.

  • General Tojo Hideki: (1884-1948) A Japanese politician and general who served as Prime Minister of Japan during most of World War II. He was a key figure in Japan's military expansionism.

  • Mao Zedong: (1893-1976) The founder of the People's Republic of China and leader of the Communist Party of China. His forces defeated Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists in the Chinese Civil War.

  • Chiang Kai-shek: (1887-1975) The leader of the Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) in China. His forces were defeated by the Communists in the Chinese Civil War, leading him to retreat to Taiwan.

  • Harry Truman: (1884-1972) The 33rd President of the United States. He made the decision to use atomic bombs against Japan and oversaw the early post-WWII period, including the occupation of Japan and the initial stages of the Cold War division of Korea.

  • Emperor Hirohito: (1901-1989) The 124th Emperor of Japan. He reigned during World War II and announced Japan's surrender in 1945.

  • General Douglas MacArthur: (1880-1964) An American five-star general who served as the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) in occupied Japan after WWII. He oversaw Japan's demilitarization and democratization. He was also the initial commander of UN forces during the Korean War.

  • Dean Rusk: (1909-1994) An American diplomat and politician who served as the US Secretary of State from 1961 to 1969. As a colonel on General George Marshall's staff in 1945, he helped define the 38th parallel as the American occupation zone in Korea.

  • Col. Charles "Tic" Bonesteel: A US Army staffer who, along with Dean Rusk, defined the 38th parallel as the American occupation zone in Korea in 1945.

  • Syngman Rhee: (1875-1965) The first President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea). He was a strong anti-communist and a controversial figure in Korean politics. He declared the "Peace Line" in 1952.

  • Kim Il-sung: (1912-1994) The founder of North Korea and the first Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. He led the North Korean invasion of South Korea in 1950.

  • Park Hŏn-yŏng: (1900-1956) A prominent Korean communist leader who was a rival of Kim Il-sung in the early years of North Korea.

  • John Foster Dulles: (1888-1959) An American diplomat and politician who served as the US Secretary of State from 1953 to 1959. He was the chief negotiator for the San Francisco Peace Treaty and played a key role in shaping US Cold War foreign policy.

  • Shigeru Yoshida: (1878-1967) A Japanese diplomat and politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan for two terms. He was a key figure in Japan's post-WWII recovery and signed the San Francisco Peace Treaty and the US-Japan Security Treaty. He met with Syngman Rhee in 1953 for the "Tiger Dialogue."

  • Robert Murphy: (1894-1978) An American diplomat who served as the US Ambassador to Japan. He played a role in attempting to bring Korea and Japan together for normalization talks.

  • Mark W. Clark: (1896-1984) A US Army general who served as the Commander in Chief of UN Forces and US Army Forces (Far East) in Japan during the Korean War. He also attempted to facilitate meetings between Syngman Rhee and Japanese leaders.

  • Yang Yu-ch’an: (1897-1975) The ROK Chief Delegate for the preliminary Korea-Japan normalization talks and later the ROK Ambassador to the US.

  • Kubota Kanichirō: The Japanese Chief Delegate during the 3rd Round of Korea-Japan Talks, known for his controversial remarks regarding Japanese colonial rule in Korea.

  • Kaifu Toshiki: (1931-2022) A Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan. He was the second Japanese prime minister to visit Korea and the first to visit Pagoda Park in 1991.

  • An Ruft O’Herne: A "comfort woman" whose testimony helped internationalize the issue.

  • Sohn Kee-chung: (1912-2002) A Korean Olympian who won the marathon gold medal at the 1936 Berlin Olympics while competing under the Japanese flag due to Korea's annexation.

  • Goto Shinpei: (1857-1929) A Japanese politician and physician who held various important positions, including head of the civilian government in Taiwan and later in Manchuria. He was known for his pragmatic and technocratic approach to colonial administration.