2019 Korean History and Cultural Seminar for Educators - Handbook 2019 NKS Handbook-0617

. Korea has distinct origins . Korea developed autonomously but with significant exchanges with its neighbors . Korea was not just the passive recipient/transmitter of culture . Korea produced, contributed, and exchanged culture with its neighbors and beyond . Korea has an important role in the historical development of East Asia 19th and Early 20th Korean History Hyungwook Kim Reforms of Daewongun and Isolation Policy . Consolidating royal authority . Isolation policy in foreign relations (except for Qing) - conflict with France (1866) and the United States (1871) . Opened by Japan (1876) Foreign Disturbance . Confident in clashes with foreign powers after a couple of “victories” - stone monuments of expelling foreign invasions . “Western barbarians invade our land. If we do not fight we must then appease them. To urge appeasement is to betray the nation.” (“ ”) . Joseon’s “victories” were possible because - persist resistance of Joseon - Western powers were not aggressive enough due to domestic situation of each imperial power . Japan, the only imperial power which could approach to Joseon freely Korea’s Exposure to World . By Japan - Unyō Incident in 1875 - favoring to opening ports - Treaty of Ganghwa (1876) i) equal sovereign right between Joseon and Japan ii) opening two more ports within 20 months iii) allowed Japan to survey coastal water iv) extra territoriality clause First Step to the Enlightenment Policy . Special envoys to Japan . Delegation to the United States . Technology, political system, education, military reform etc. . Fierce protest from Confucian literati group . Emergence of progressive party (failed Coup d’Etat in 1884) Battle Field of Imperial Power . Mainly Qing vs Japan - presence of armies in Seoul - tentative peace through treaty . Britain and Russia 28

2019 Korean History and Cultural Seminar for Educators - Handbook 2019 NKS Handbook-0617 | Page 30