Grain Ban Incident

This was a dispute between Japan and Korea over the grain export ban that was implemented in Korea in 1889 (Meiji 22). In October of that year, Cho Byung-sik, the inspector of Hamgyong Province, banned the export of grain outside the province in order to prevent food shortages caused by poor harvests. However, Japanese merchants in Wonsan Port, who were profiting from soybean exports, strongly opposed this ban, so the Korean government revoked the order and dismissed Cho. However, in December 1891, the Japanese government demanded payment of 140,000 yen in damages, and the incident developed into a diplomatic issue between the two countries. Negotiations were difficult from the start, and in May 1893, the Japanese side issued an ultimatum to sever diplomatic relations, putting pressure on the Korean government, and the matter was settled when the Korean government agreed to pay a total of over 110,000 yen, including compensation for other incidents.

[Makoto Yoshino]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

1889年（明治22）に朝鮮で実施された穀物輸出禁止令をめぐる日本、朝鮮間の紛争事件。同年10月、咸鏡(かんきょう)道観察使の趙秉式(ちょうへいしき)は、凶作による食糧難を防ぐ目的で穀物の道外への搬出を禁じたが、大豆輸出で利益を得ていた元山港の日本商人らが強硬に反対したため、朝鮮政府は同令を撤回させたうえ、趙を更迭処分にした。しかし、91年12月になって、日本政府は14万円に上る損害賠償の支払い請求を行い、この事件は両国間の外交問題に発展する。交渉は当初から難航、日本側は93年5月、国交断絶の最後通告を発して圧力をかけ、朝鮮政府が他の事件の賠償を含め総額11万余円の支払いに応じることで決着をみた。

［吉野　誠］

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