MINISERIES ON MODERN KOREAN HISTORY (4)
Moo-Young Han, Editor-in-Chief
A history of modern Korea covers a period little over a hundred years from the
end of the 19th century to present day. It is perhaps the most tumultuous time in
the Korean peninsula.
It covers some of the most momentous events – downfall of Joseon dynasty (in
parallel with the downfall of Qing dynasty of China), colonial domination by the
militarily modernized Japan, arbitrary division of the peninsula into North and
South, outbreak of the Korean War, Seoul Spring that toppled the autocratic rule
of Syngman Rhee, military coup and three decades of military dictatorship,
followed by dazzling outburst of democracy and economic development and
finally achieving the status of OECD member nation.
In this miniseries, we will explore some of the highlights of these events during
this fateful period in contemporary Korea.
This miniseries is archived in the Korean American Forum (KAF) section of the
SKAS website (www.skas.org).
Series 4. The Russo-Japanese War
The victory of Japan over China was a major shift in the power alignment of
Northeast Asia. Not only China lose the historical influence over Korea, but the
defeat of China accelerated the decline of Qing dynasty that eventually led to its
demise in1912. The Great Chinese Revolution of 1912 under the leadership of
Sun Yat-Sen gave birth to the Republic of China.
Forcing out China’s hand from Korea, however, did not completely clear the
playing field for Japan to take over Korea. There were still other colonial powers
interested in the region that included not only Russia but also indirectly Britain
and America.
Russia was particularly interested in the region for two major reasons. One was
its need to acquire a warm water port that is operative for all four seasons. The
Russian city of Vladivostok was operative as a port only during the summer
months. The second reason was the vast natural resources in Manchuria.
Russia has already had considerable control over the northeastern region of it.
In addition to that is the fact that the rapidly declining royal court of King/Emperor
Gojong of Korea actively sought the help of Russia in order to counterbalance
the ever deepening encroachment by Japan. The tension between Russia and
Japan in the Far East was heading toward an inevitable collision.
Greater Manchuria. Russian (outer) Manchuria is the lighter red region to the upper right.
At one point, Japan tried to negotiate with Russia: if Russia would agree to give
free hand to Japan over Korea, Japan would reciprocate by not interfering in
Manchuria. Russia refused.
In February of 1904, the war broke out between Russia and Japan, basically over
control of Korea and Manchuria. The war would last a year and 7 months when
the terms of truce was negotiated by the American president Theodore
Roosevelt. Roosevelt would win a Nobel Peace Prize for his effort.
War was fought on land and sea; land war was fought in Manchuria and naval
battles in the waters around the Korean peninsula. Battle after battle Russian
forces were defeated decisively both in land and sea.
During this period, Britain and Japan formed an alliance. Britain’s main interest
was China and Japan recognized British ambition in China and promised not to
interfere. Britain, on the other hand, were concerned about the potential Russian
influence in Manchuria, the northeastern China and wanted to halt the Russian
advance there.
For naval battles with Japan the Russian fleet had to sail its Baltic Sea fleet all
the way to the Far East. British refused passage of Russian fleet thru Suez
Canal and Russians had to go all the way around the southern tip of Africa and
British supplied the intelligence to Japanese navy, the number and types of
Russian warships and other relevant military information. When the Russian
fleet arrived at the Korea Strait between Korea and Japan, they were trapped by
the Japanese navy fully prepared to engage them. It was a total defeat for
Russians.
The Battle of Tsushima, May 27-28, 1905
Along with the Battle of Little Big Horn (1875) and the Fall of Singapore (1942),
the defeat of the Imperial Russian Navy in the Battle of Tsushima in the Korea
Strait in 1905 is considered one of the most humiliating defeats in the military
history.
The Russian fleet steamed half way round the world to take on the Japanese and
was destroyed, losing the Russo-Japanese War in one fell swoop and putting
another nail into the coffin of the Romanov tsars.
The Imperial Russian Navy travelled 33,000 km to answer a surprise attack from
the Japanese on their Far Eastern base at Port Arthur. They fired at British
fishing boats they believed were Japanese in the North Sea and were denied the
use of the Suez Canal by the annoyed Brits. A long sea journey around Africa
followed, wearing out both crews and ships.
The Russians were already in technologically inferior craft, using wireless
communications they hadn’t mastered and with misfiring torpedoes. The
Japanese had better long-range guns and knew how to use them.
Japanese Admiral Togo made the most of his much better wireless technology to
run the battle entirely to his plan. The Russian fleet was destroyed one by one
until finally Admiral Nebogatov surrendered his surviving six ships to end the
killing.
The Russian navy was all but destroyed, all its battleships were gone and 4,380
of its sailors killed. The Japanese lost just three torpedo boats. The two Russian
admirals were tried on their return home and while they were allowed to live their
reputations were ruined.