History of Korea

Ito Hirobumi

Ito Hirobumi was one of Japan's foremost statesman. He was instrumental to negotiating the 1885 Convention of Tientsin with the Chinese statesman Li Hung-chang. When Kojong asked the Chinese court for aid in suppressing the Tonghak Rebellion of 1894, troops were sent to Korea. However, because Chinese troops were sent to Korea without in forming Japan, the Japanese government claimed that the Convention of Tiensin was violated and attacked the Chinese on Korean soil. The war that ensued, the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95, devastated Korea and with Japan's victory, Korea's traditional ties to China were severed.

Ito also negotiated the Protectorate Treaty and forced it upon Korea. Although the treaty was refused, Ito succeeded in ratifying it in 1905. In 1909, Ito was assassinated by the Korean nationalist named An Chung-gun.

Colonial Period