Archived Japanese military in Korea by the West Gate in Seoul, 1904 (cdn.loc.gov)
submitted ago by frailsnail
Posted by: frailsnail
Posting time: 4.8 years ago on
Last edit time: never edited.
Archived on: 2/12/2017 1:51:00 AM
Views: 231
SCP: 2
3 upvotes, 1 downvotes (75% upvoted it)
~1 user(s) here now
NSFW: No
Authorized: Yes
Anon: No
Private: Yes
Type: Default
Archived Japanese military in Korea by the West Gate in Seoul, 1904 (cdn.loc.gov)
submitted ago by frailsnail
view the rest of the comments →
[–] frailsnail [S] 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
This picture is of Seoul in 1904. What’s interesting about this picture is the contrast between the two groups of people featured prominently in the front. Although the caption is talking about the electric tramway, the dark black of the Japanese military and the bright white of traditional Korean garb is far more interesting. And, for a little history, most Japanese people in Korea before formal annexation, I believe, were part of the military. This picture highlights that fact.
Here’s an abridged version of some history that occurred during this time, for those who are interested. Most of the information is from my lecture notes.
Korea, during this time period (the Great Han Empire), although many view them as “backwards” and “victims”, was rapidly modernizing as a result of opening up to Western (and Japanese) forces during the end of the Choson. Already, Seoul had built their first railway and introduced the first street car. A postal service was introduced that connected Koreans to the rest of the world. In 1901, Seoul was the first city in Asia outside of Japan set up streetlights. Yet, their progress wasn’t completely on their own doing. Many forces were vying after Korea for strategic, geopolitical, economical reasons; these forces included: Japan, Russia, US, and Britain. One of the most important forces, and for obvious reasons, would be Japan.
During the Meiji era, Japan was always interested in Korea. Some might view their interest with a positive light – they were a civilized country interested in modernizing a “backwards” country or they wanted to create a cooperation of nations in the east for the sake of defending eastern virtues from western imperialist. However, most would consider that a mask for Japanese imperialism (it was). It was because of their interest in Korea that the first Sino-Japanese war in 1894 happened. After the Chinese backed away from Korea, Japanese interests were threatened again by the Russians also looking to expand its influence into Russia. It was due to this rivalry that the Russo-Japanese War occurred less than a decade later. Korea was formally annexed in 1910.
I also gotta mention that there was so many attempts at Korean independence. The Koreans loathed Japanese rule over them, as it was brutal and was not cooperation that pan-Asianist’s had hoped for. Ito Hirobumi’s assassination by An Jung-geun is an example of a dissatisfied pan-Asianist’s extreme action. There were pleas to foreign country for aid to repel the Japanese, though mostly ignored due to prevailing thoughts at the time. After annexation, inspired by Wilson’s Fourteen Points, the March First Movement, the largest mass movement in Korean history, was an example of demonstrations against Japanese rule.
More on Japanese colonialism in Korea - this officially occurred after the picture featured.
Queen Min’s, posthumously declared Empress Myeongseong’s assassination - happened before, example of Japanese/Russian interests conflicting
[–] someguyfromcanada 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
Great comment. Too bad this place seems to be pretty dead today for some reason! :(
[–] frailsnail [S] 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Thanks! And it does seem really quiet today. Think most people are off being busy, mad at politics, mad at reddit, sleeping who knows.