Commemorating the establishment of the colonial office of Chosen (Korea) Governor-General, 1910.

Commemorating the establishment of the colonial office of Chosen (Korea) Governor-General, 1910. Gensui Count Terauchi Masatake, the third and last Resident-General under terms of the Eulsa Treaty, was named the first Governor-General after annexation and served until leaving the military for politics, becoming Japan’s Prime Minister in 1916.

Japan’s colonization of Korea (Chosun or Chosen) was a process driven by its imperial ambitions, military strength, and geopolitical strategy.

By the late 1800s, Japan had achieved rapid modernization and militarization following the Meiji Restoration (1868). Inspired by Western imperialists, Japan sought to expand its influence in East Asia, particularly over Korea, which was seen as strategically important for trade, security, and resource extraction.

Japan maintained control over Korea for the next 35 years, until the end of World War II in 1945, a rule marked by sometimes violent opposition (e.g., March 1st Movement [1919]) and policies aimed at erasing Korean culture, language, and identity.

Several key events led to the Korea’s annexation by Japan in 1910. Among them:

Treaty of Ganghwa (1876) – Japan forced Korea to sign this treaty, which opened Korean ports to Japanese trade and ended Korea’s status as a tributary state of China.

First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) – Japan defeated China, removing Chinese influence over Korea and asserting its dominance in the region. This resulted in the Treaty of Shimonoseki (1895), in which China formally recognized Korea as independent (though Japan soon filled the power vacuum).

Assassination of Queen Min (1895) – Japan orchestrated the assassination of Korea’s pro-Russian Queen Min (Empress Myeongseong) to weaken Korean resistance and eliminate Russian influence.

Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) – Japan decisively defeated Russia, securing control over Korea and forcing Russia to recognize Japan’s dominance in the region through the Treaty of Portsmouth (1905).

Korea Becomes a Protectorate (1905) – Japan imposed the Eulsa Treaty (1905), making Korea a protectorate, stripping it of diplomatic sovereignty, and placing it under Japanese control.

Annexation of Korea (1910) – After years of political maneuvering and military intimidation, Japan officially annexed Korea through the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty (1910). This marked the start of 35 years of harsh colonial rule.