Modern Korean History
Dr. Christopher Green
4 Feb.
Korea’s modern history is shaped by both domestic developments and international influences.
The signing of the Treaty of Kanghwa in 1876 is identified as the moment Korea entered the
modern world of sovereign nation-states, forced into international engagement.
Imperialism → Japanese Empire, Napoleon
Capitalism → Free trade, industrialization
Colonialism → “eat or be eaten’ mindset
Nationalism → preserving customs and traditions, pride, centralization
Militarism → militarization in government and society
Marxism-Leninism → communism, socialism
Democracy → autonomy, independence, westernization, the D in DPRK
Authoritarianism → South Korea went from dictatorship to democracy while North Korea remained
under totalitarian rule
4 misinterpretations about Chosŏn:
Chosŏn was not a hermit kingdom, but they were isolated, China as well. Chosŏn was however
the slowest with exiting their isolationism which made them look like such.
- Chosŏn still traded with other countries and there were cultural exchanges.
Chosŏn was not a constant victim of foreign invasion.
- het viel best mee vergeleken met andere landen en perioden
Chosŏn did not have stagnation → there was no lack of activity, growth, or development, Chosŏn
was flourishing (think of the long reigns)
- ze waren minder snel met modernisatie dan Japan, aangezien Japan daartoe werd
gedwongen waardoor Korea achter leek te lopen, waardoor Japan een kans zag om Korea
te “helpen”
Chosŏn did not have despotism (the exercise of absolute power, especially in a cruel and
oppressive way)
- vanaf het neo-confucianisme hadden de leiders beperkte macht, toch werden ze door het
buitenland als tirannen neergezet
18th century
- Korean Golden Age
- peace, stability, prosperity (in China too)
- moral, rationalistic order in a settled Confucian system
, - trade growth (with China and Japan)
실학
- tribute missions offered a window to the world (700 missions during the Qing dynasty, and
12 missions to Edo during 1607-1811)
- new ideas
- education → Confucian academies (서원)
State-society relations
- taxes to support (army, scholars, governments)
- the peasantry paid tax on everything
Roots of Korean capitalism
- collection of tribute rax
- 계 → cooperative utilization of capital
- trade was however not encouraged
19th century
- “the beginning of the end”
- reform → unsettlement of the status quo
- monopoly of power by 양반 → which they eventually lost
- 서자 (children of concubines) and 준인 (specialists) admitted to state exams
- access to knowledge
- corruption expanded
- the peasantry was dissatisfied → destitution led to uprisings
- slavery did decline
대원군 (이하응 (1821-1898); the father of 고종)
- de facto regent from 1864 to 1873
- he fought for dynastic restoration, decrease of 서원 schools, reduction of the power of the
양반 class, isolationism (including persecution of Catholics/Christians), anti-corruption
- he wanted a land survey but high costs wouldn't allow it to happen (he wanted to organise
taxes totally)
- he was sino-centric
- he was in support of the chungin and secondary sons (준인 & 서자)
- he was very different than his son Kojong, who was progressive, into reforms and
diplomatic relations
1866 → General Sherman at P'yŏngyang river, wanting to open trade with P'yŏngyang
1866 → French Catholics killed by Chosŏn, France wanted revenge
1868 → Meiji Restoration
1871 → American expedition to find the General Sherman
1875 → Unyō accident
1876 → Treaty of 강화 (unequal)
1877 → Kuroda mission (which led to the Treaty)
The involvement of China did not end after the Treaty.
Dr. Christopher Green
4 Feb.
Korea’s modern history is shaped by both domestic developments and international influences.
The signing of the Treaty of Kanghwa in 1876 is identified as the moment Korea entered the
modern world of sovereign nation-states, forced into international engagement.
Imperialism → Japanese Empire, Napoleon
Capitalism → Free trade, industrialization
Colonialism → “eat or be eaten’ mindset
Nationalism → preserving customs and traditions, pride, centralization
Militarism → militarization in government and society
Marxism-Leninism → communism, socialism
Democracy → autonomy, independence, westernization, the D in DPRK
Authoritarianism → South Korea went from dictatorship to democracy while North Korea remained
under totalitarian rule
4 misinterpretations about Chosŏn:
Chosŏn was not a hermit kingdom, but they were isolated, China as well. Chosŏn was however
the slowest with exiting their isolationism which made them look like such.
- Chosŏn still traded with other countries and there were cultural exchanges.
Chosŏn was not a constant victim of foreign invasion.
- het viel best mee vergeleken met andere landen en perioden
Chosŏn did not have stagnation → there was no lack of activity, growth, or development, Chosŏn
was flourishing (think of the long reigns)
- ze waren minder snel met modernisatie dan Japan, aangezien Japan daartoe werd
gedwongen waardoor Korea achter leek te lopen, waardoor Japan een kans zag om Korea
te “helpen”
Chosŏn did not have despotism (the exercise of absolute power, especially in a cruel and
oppressive way)
- vanaf het neo-confucianisme hadden de leiders beperkte macht, toch werden ze door het
buitenland als tirannen neergezet
18th century
- Korean Golden Age
- peace, stability, prosperity (in China too)
- moral, rationalistic order in a settled Confucian system
, - trade growth (with China and Japan)
실학
- tribute missions offered a window to the world (700 missions during the Qing dynasty, and
12 missions to Edo during 1607-1811)
- new ideas
- education → Confucian academies (서원)
State-society relations
- taxes to support (army, scholars, governments)
- the peasantry paid tax on everything
Roots of Korean capitalism
- collection of tribute rax
- 계 → cooperative utilization of capital
- trade was however not encouraged
19th century
- “the beginning of the end”
- reform → unsettlement of the status quo
- monopoly of power by 양반 → which they eventually lost
- 서자 (children of concubines) and 준인 (specialists) admitted to state exams
- access to knowledge
- corruption expanded
- the peasantry was dissatisfied → destitution led to uprisings
- slavery did decline
대원군 (이하응 (1821-1898); the father of 고종)
- de facto regent from 1864 to 1873
- he fought for dynastic restoration, decrease of 서원 schools, reduction of the power of the
양반 class, isolationism (including persecution of Catholics/Christians), anti-corruption
- he wanted a land survey but high costs wouldn't allow it to happen (he wanted to organise
taxes totally)
- he was sino-centric
- he was in support of the chungin and secondary sons (준인 & 서자)
- he was very different than his son Kojong, who was progressive, into reforms and
diplomatic relations
1866 → General Sherman at P'yŏngyang river, wanting to open trade with P'yŏngyang
1866 → French Catholics killed by Chosŏn, France wanted revenge
1868 → Meiji Restoration
1871 → American expedition to find the General Sherman
1875 → Unyō accident
1876 → Treaty of 강화 (unequal)
1877 → Kuroda mission (which led to the Treaty)
The involvement of China did not end after the Treaty.
