The Eulsa Protection Treaty

This treaty was signed by Japan, which won the Russo-Japanese War, and with the approval of the United States, Great Britain, Russia, and other nations, it effectively made Korea a vassal state. It is also called the Second Japan-Korea Treaty. On November 17, 1905 (Meiji 38), surrounded by Japanese troops and police, Ito Hirobumi, who was sent by the Japanese government, presented the draft treaty to the King and government of Korea. The King and the head of the government, Han Gyu Sol, were adamantly opposed, but the treaty was officially concluded with the support of five ministers (known as the Eulsa Five Traitors) who succumbed to threats. This five-article treaty resulted in Korea losing its diplomatic rights to Japan, and it was no longer considered an independent country internationally. In addition, a powerful Japanese supervisory agency called the Resident-General was placed in charge of domestic affairs, and the Korean government could no longer do anything on its own. Koreans were furious when they heard this. Many high-ranking officials committed suicide, shouting that the treaty was invalid, while protest rallies were held in Seoul and stores were closed. Furthermore, many people across the country rose up in anti-Japanese volunteer militias (anti-Japanese armed struggle).

[Sadatoshi Mabuchi]

"The Bloody History of the Korean Independence Movement 1" by Park Eun-sik, translated and annotated by Kang Deok-sang (Heibonsha, Toyo Bunko)" ▽ "A Short History of the Japan-Korea Annexation" by Yamabe Kentaro (Iwanami Shinsho)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

日露戦争に勝利した日本が、アメリカ、イギリス、ロシアなど列国の承認を取り付けて韓国を事実上属国化した条約。第二次日韓協約ともいう。1905年（明治38）11月17日、日本の軍隊、警察が周囲を固めるなかで、日本政府から特派された伊藤博文(ひろぶみ)がこの条約案を韓国の国王および政府に突きつけた。国王や政府首班の韓圭(ハンギュソル)らが頑強に反対したが、脅迫に屈した5人の大臣たち（乙巳五賊という）の賛成で、この条約は正式に締結されたことにされてしまった。全文5条からなるこの条約によって、韓国は外交権を日本に奪われ、国際的には独立国とみなされなくなった。また内政面においても、統監府という強力な日本の監督機関が置かれて、韓国政府は独自に何も行えなくなった。これを知った韓国人の怒りは激しかった。条約の無効を叫んで自決する高官が続出する一方、ソウルでは抗議集会が開かれ、商店が閉じられた。また全国各地で多くの人々が抗日義兵（反日の武装闘争）に立ち上がった。

［馬渕貞利］

『朴殷植著、姜徳相訳注『朝鮮独立運動の血史1』（平凡社・東洋文庫）』▽『山辺健太郎著『日韓併合小史』（岩波新書）』

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