The Korean Problem in the Nineteenth Century

Abstract

At the time the great powers became interested in opening Korea to commerce, the rulers of the country were arrogantly anti-foreign, deeply convinced of the superiority of their culture, and blindly reactionary. Internally the country was blighted by political intrigue, corruption and oppression which stifled progress. It could be said that there were but two classes of people in Korea: the oppressors and the oppressed. In foreign relations the King of Korea recognized the suzerainty of the Emperor of China and some commercial contacts were carried on with the Japanese, who were permitted to send eight junks annually to Pusan for the exchange of goods.1) As in China, all Westerners were regarded as barbarians. Hatred of the Japanese became particularly intense after Japan opened her doors to the West and began Westernizing many of her institutions. In the eyes of the ultraconservative Koreans these actions of the Japanese were a betrayal of the East.2) The West first came in contact with Korea through Christianity, which was introduced into the country by some Koreans on their re-