Korean modern history: key periods and developments

Korea

What is the situation of Korea at the end of 19th century, in terms of international relations and domestic responses?

Before 1910, Korea was a part of an Asian empire known as the Joseon. In the 1800s, religious persecution laid the way for a rebellion by the people which would alter the course of the history of the country. The idea of a unified religious sect was to further strengthen the nation. Instead people were resentful that the government was trying to influence such a personal aspect of an individual's life. A "peasant" religion known as Donghak was making its way into what would become Korea. The teachings of this religion discontented the lower classes from their stations and there was a rebellion in 1864. This all coincided with the attempts of the western world to gain access to Korea, something the government strictly refused.

In this period the Korean government signed several treaties with western nations, such as France and the United States. In 1866, some French priests had been killed in Korea for trying to instill Christianity. In response, France sent gunboats and the problems looked doomed to escalate. Signing treaties did some good, until Japan decided that it would benefit from having close ties of their own with what would become Korea. Japan would become such a powerful influence in that country that they were able to annex Korea as a Japanese territory in the early parts of the 20th century. Before the annexation, Japan took over unofficial control of Korea, having leaders in position in the country and dominating Korea's homeland and international affairs. Posing as a "protectorate" to a weaker nation, Japan became more or less colonizers of Korea until that country declared independence from tyrannical rule.

2. Describe the policies of Japanese colonial rule and the March First Movement.

Japan held control of Korea until the end of the Second World War when sovereignty of Korea was returned to the native population. During that period, the Japanese forced Korea into accepting western technologies, such as electricity and indoor plumbing. However, there was nothing altruistic about the incorporation of these techniques. By increasing agriculture and communication, Japan was able to ensure that there was increased rice production which could then be supplied to the empire nation. Before this time, Korea had predominantly worked agriculturally within small communities. Commodities were grown to support the small villages surrounding the farms. Product was not grown in enough amounts to lead to export. The needs of the Japanese colonizers thus altered the entire agricultural process of Korea. Korean lands were confiscated by the Japanese government so even farmlands which had been private property for generations could be taken by the colonizers. Often these fields were used to grow poppy seeds which could then be turned into opium. This narcotic was a popular export to the western world and made the Japanese lots of money, despite the fact that the crops were on formerly private lands and were of such a harsh nature that it could damage the soil irreparably.

During the war years, Japan would enlist Korean soldiers to fight, often through coercion or sometimes by force. As a colony population, the Koreans had far less power within the nation state and thus they were considered less important than their Japanese counterparts. This lack of fairness was battle against through several attempted revolutions. One of the most famous of these was the March 1st Movement. In 1919, in response to the oppressive regime of Japanese rule as well as the seeming incongruity of the League of Nations, a faction in Korea established a movement designed to completely alter the country and allow the common population to have sovereignty.

3. Describe the situation on the Korean peninsula from 1945 to 1950 when the Korean War breaks out.