Editing History of Korea (section)

===Korean Empire (1897–1910)===
{{Main|Korean Empire}}
{{Further|Gwangmu Reform}}

As a result of the [[First Sino-Japanese War]] (1894–1895), the 1895 [[Treaty of Shimonoseki]] was concluded between China and Japan.<ref>{{cite journal | title=A Study of Functionality of the "Symbol" on Nationalism in Modern Korea: Activities of the Independence Club and the Independence Arch (1896–1899) | last=Kim | first=Yong Chan | url=http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/acd/re/k-rsc/ras/04_publications/ria_ja/36_09.pdf | language=ja | journal=Ritsumeikan Journal of International Relations and Area Studies | volume=36 | date=October 2012 | pages=189–205 | access-date=January 21, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313001720/http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/acd/re/k-rsc/ras/04_publications/ria_ja/36_09.pdf | archive-date=March 13, 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> It stipulated the abolition of subordinate relationships Korea had with China, in which Korea was a client state of China since the [[Imo Incident]] in 1882.

In 1897, Joseon was renamed the [[Korean Empire]], and King Gojong became [[Gojong of Korea|Emperor Gojong]]. The imperial government aimed to become a strong and independent nation by implementing domestic reforms, strengthening military forces, developing commerce and industry, and surveying land ownership. Organizations like the [[Independence Club]] also rallied to assert the rights of the Joseon people, but clashed with the government which proclaimed absolute monarchy and power.{{sfn|Association of Korean History Teachers|2005b|pp= 51–55}}

Russian influence was strong in the Empire until being defeated by Japan in the [[Russo-Japanese War]] (1904–1905). Korean Empire effectively became a [[protectorate]] of Japan on 17 November 1905, the [[Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905|1905 Protectorate Treaty]] having been promulgated without Emperor Gojong's required seal or commission.{{sfn|Association of Korean History Teachers|2005b|pp= 58–61}}{{sfn|Lee, Ki-baik|1984|pp= 309–317}}

Following the signing of the treaty, many intellectuals and scholars set up various organizations and associations, embarking on movements for independence. In 1907, Gojong was forced to abdicate after Japan learned that he [[Hague Secret Emissary Affair|sent secret envoys]] to the [[Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907|Second Hague Conventions]] to protest against the protectorate treaty, leading to the accession of Gojong's son, [[Sunjong of Korea|Emperor Sunjong]]. Immediately after Sunjong ascended the throne, Empire of Japan forcibly concluded the [[Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907]] in order to further strengthen the authority of the Resident-General, appointing Japanese vice-ministers in each department of the Korean Empire's government and openly interfering in the empire's internal affairs (vice-ministerial politics), and forcibly disbanded the army through a secret agreement.

Soldiers who opposed this joined the [[Righteous army]], and the movement expanded into a nationwide Righteous army war. However, on [[July 12]], [[1909]], Empire of Japan took away the Korean Empire's judicial and police powers through the Japan–Korea Memorandum of 1909, and suppressed the resistance of the Righteous army nationwide with force through the 60-day South Korea big suppression operation. At this operation, about 17,000 Righteous army and civilians were massacred.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0066314 | title=남한 대토벌 작전 (南韓 大討伐 作戰) }}</ref>

In 1909, independence activist [[An Jung-geun]] assassinated [[Itō Hirobumi]], former [[Japanese Resident-General of Korea|Resident-General of Korea]], for Ito's intrusions on the Korean politics.<ref name="hoare pares japanese rule">{{harvnb|Hoare|Pares|1988|pp= 50–67}}</ref><ref>[http://www.korea.net/news.do?mode=detail&guid=45163 An Jung-geun] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101100357/http://www.korea.net/news.do?mode=detail&guid=45163 |date=2019-01-01 }}, Korea.net</ref> This prompted the Japanese to ban all political organizations and proceed with plans for annexation.