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106-527: The former city hall of Seoul was built in 1925, during the Japanese occupation of Korea . It is an example of Imperial Crown Style architecture, and served as city hall from Korea's liberation in 1945, until construction of the modern building in 2008. It now houses the Seoul Metropolitan Library , in front of the current, modern Seoul City Hall building. Following a competition for a new city hall,

212-666: A tributary state of Qing China . However, in 1854, Japan was forcefully opened by the United States . It then rapidly modernized under the Meiji Restoration , while Joseon continued to resist foreign attempts to open it up. Japan eventually succeeded in opening Joseon with the unequal Japan–Korea Treaty of 1876 . Afterwards, Japan embarked on a decades-long process of defeating its local rivals, securing alliances with Western powers, and asserting its influence in Korea. Japan assassinated

318-538: A South Korean building or structure is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Japanese occupation of Korea From 1910 to 1945, Korea was occupied by the Empire of Japan under the name Chōsen ( 朝鮮 ), the Japanese reading of " Joseon ". Japan first took Korea into its sphere of influence during the late 1800s. Both Korea ( Joseon ) and Japan had been under policies of isolationism , with Joseon being

424-574: A considerable number of properties were destroyed by Korean residents. Republic of China further alleged the Japanese authorities in Korea did not take adequate steps to protect the lives and property of the Chinese residents, and blamed the authorities for allowing inflammatory accounts to be published. As a result of this riot, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Kijūrō Shidehara , who insisted on Japanese, Chinese, and Korean harmony, lost his position. In 1911,

530-507: A famous garden created from an artificial mound, is located behind Gyotaejeon. Four hexagonal chimneys, constructed around 1869 in orange bricks and decorative roof tiles, adorn Amisan without showing their utilitarian function and are notable examples of formative art created during the Joseon Dynasty. The chimneys were registered as Korea's Treasure No. 811 on January 8, 1985. Hyangwonjeong ( 향원정 ; 香遠亭 ), or Hyangwonjeong Pavilion,

636-478: A frail health later in his reign, decided to carry out his executive duties in Gangnyeongjeon, where his bed-chamber is located, instead of Sajeongjeon. Since this decision meant many government officials routinely needed to visit and intrude Gangnyeongjeon, King Sejong had Gyotaejeon built in consideration of his wife the queen's privacy. The building was burned down in 1592 when the Japanese invaded Korea , but

742-533: A long life for the late queen, while the west walls of the Jagyeongjeon compound are adorned with floral designs. The protruding southeast part of Jagyeongjeon, named Cheongyeollu ( 청연루 ; 清讌樓 ), is designed to provide a cooler space during the summer, while the northwest part of Jagyeongjeon, named Bogandang ( 복안당 ; 福安堂 ), is designed for the winter months. The eastern part of Jagyeogjeon, named Hyeopgyeongdang ( 협경당 ; 協慶堂 ) and distinguished by

848-401: A new surname to be used in the family register. The surname could be of their own choosing, including their native clan name, but in practice many Koreans received a Japanese surname. There is controversy over whether or not the adoption of a Japanese surname was effectively mandatory, or merely strongly encouraged. From 1939, labor shortages as a result of conscription of Japanese men for

954-637: A number of irregular civilian militias called "righteous armies" arose. They consisted of tens of thousands of peasants engaged in anti-Japanese armed rebellion. After the Korean army was disbanded in 1907, former soldiers joined the armies and fought the Japanese army at Namdaemun . They were defeated, and largely fled into Manchuria, where they joined the guerrilla resistance movement that persisted until Korea's 1945 liberation. As Korean resistance against Japanese rule intensified, Japanese replaced Korean police system with their military police. Infamous Akashi Motojiro

1060-658: A number of mass murders, including the Gando Massacre , Kantō Massacre , Jeamni massacre , and Shinano River incident . While the international consensus is that these incidents all occurred, various Japanese scholars and politicians, including Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike , either deny completely, attempt to justify, or downplay incidents such as these. Beginning in 1939 and during World War II , Japan mobilized around 5.4 million Koreans to support its war effort. Many were moved forcefully from their homes, and set to work in generally extremely poor working conditions, although there

1166-526: A part of phase 5 of the Gyeongbokgung restoration initiative, Gwanghwamun , the main gate to the palace, was restored to its original design. Another 20-year restoration project is planned by the South Korean government to restore Gyeongbokgung to its former status. Having passed through the initial main gate (Gwanghwamun Gate, 광화문 ) and secondary gate (Heungnyemun Gate, 흥례문 ), visitors would pass over

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1272-590: A process of Japanization , eventually functionally banning the use of Korean names and the Korean language altogether. Tens of thousands of cultural artifacts were taken to Japan, and hundreds of historic buildings like the royal palaces Gyeongbokgung and Deoksugung were either partially or completely demolished. Japan also built infrastructure and industry. Railways, ports and roads were constructed, although in numerous cases workers were subjected to extremely poor working circumstances and discriminatory pay. While Korea's economy grew under Japan, many argue that many of

1378-616: A protectorate of China , forced opening of three Korean ports to Japanese trade, granted extraterritorial rights to Japanese citizens, and was an unequal treaty signed under duress ( gunboat diplomacy ) of the Ganghwa Island incident of 1875. The regent Daewongun , who remained opposed to any concessions to Japan or the West, helped organize the Mutiny of 1882, an anti-Japanese outbreak against Queen Min and her allies. Motivated by resentment of

1484-419: A representative consultant for Ryohei Uchida , and was used for propaganda with the support of the Japanese government. On 3 December 1909, he and Lee Wan-yong will issue a statement demanding the annexation of Korea. However, the merger took place in the form of Japan's annexation of Korean territory and was disbanded by Terauchi Masatake on 26 September 1910. During the prelude to the 1910 annexation,

1590-455: A small bridge named Yeongjegyo ( 영제교 ). Located on the top of the canal right next to the bridge were several imaginary creatures known as Seosu . Chwihyanggyo was originally located on the north side of the island and was the longest bridge constructed purely of wood during the Joseon Dynasty; however, it was destroyed during the Korean War. The bridge was reconstructed in its present form on

1696-491: A tall stone foundation, and a stone deck or veranda is located in front of the building. The noted feature of the building is an absence of a top white roof ridge called yongmaru ( 용마루 ) in Korean. Many theories exist to explain the absence, of which a prominent one states that, since the king was symbolized as the dragon during the Joseon dynasty, the yongmaru , which contains the letter dragon or yong (龍), cannot rest on top of

1802-670: A total population of over 21 million, less than 3%. By 1939 the Japanese population increased to 651,000, mostly from Japan's western prefectures. During the same period, the population in Chōsen grew faster than that in the naichi . Koreans also migrated to the naichi in large numbers, especially after 1930; by 1939 there were over 981,000 Koreans living in Japan. Challenges which deterred Japanese from migrating into Chōsen included lack of arable land and population density comparable to that of Japan. Japan sent anthropologists to Korea who took photos of

1908-530: Is "Bridge Intoxicated with Fragrance". The bridge Chwihyanggyo was originally located on the north side of the island and was the longest bridge constructed purely of wood during the Joseon dynasty; however, it was destroyed during the Korean War . The bridge was reconstructed in its present form on the south side of the island in 1953, but is now relocated to its original location on the north side. Jagyeongjeon ( 자경전 ; 慈慶殿 ), also called Jagyeongjeon Hall,

2014-399: Is 128 m wide and 113 m across. Constructed mainly of wood and stone, Gyeonghoeru has a form where the wooden structure of the building sits on top of 48 massive stone pillars, with wooden stairs connecting the second floor to the first floor. The outer perimeters of Gyeonghoeru are supported by square pillars while the inner columns are cylindrical; they were placed thus to represent

2120-476: Is a building used as the main residing quarters by Queen Sinjeong ( 신정왕후 ; 神貞王后 ), the mother of King Heonjong . First constructed in 1865, it was burned down twice by a fire but was reconstructed in 1888. Jagyeongjeon is the only royal residing quarters in Gyeongbokgung that survived the demolition campaigns of the Japanese government during the Japanese occupation of Korea . The chimneys of Jagyeongjeon are decorated with ten signs of longevity to wish for

2226-470: Is a hall used to hold important and special state banquets during the Joseon Dynasty. It is registered as Korea's National Treasure No. 224 on January 8, 1985. The first Gyeonghoeru was constructed in 1412, the 12th year of the reign of King Taejong , but was burned down during the Japanese invasions of Korea in 1592. The present building was constructed in 1867 (the 4th year of the reign of King Gojong ) on an island of an artificial, rectangular lake that

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2332-468: Is a small, two-story hexagonal pavilion built around 1873 by the order of King Gojong when Geoncheonggung residence was built to the north within Gyeongbokgung. The pavilion was constructed on an artificial island of a lake named Hyangwonji ( 향원지 ; 香遠池 ), and a bridge named Chwihyanggyo ( 취향교 ; 醉香橋 ) connects it to the palace grounds. The name Hyangwonjeong is loosely translated as "Pavilion of Far-Reaching Fragrance", while Chwihyanggyo

2438-625: Is exemplified in the legacy of Park Chung Hee , South Korea's most influential and controversial president, who collaborated with the Japanese military and continued to praise it even after the colonial period. Until 1964, South Korea and Japan had no functional diplomatic relations, until they signed the Treaty on Basic Relations , which declared "already null and void " the past unequal treaties, especially those of 1905 and 1910. Despite this, relations between Japan and South Korea have oscillated between warmer and colder periods, often due to conflicts over

2544-408: Is lined with two rows of rank stones, called pumgyeseok ( 품계석 ; 品階石 ), indicating where the court officials are to stand according to their ranks. The whole courtyard is fully enclosed by wooden cloisters . Sajeongjeon ( 사정전 ; 思政殿 ), also called Sajeongjeon Hall, is a building used as the main executive office by the king during the Joseon Dynasty. Located behind Geunjeongjeon Hall,

2650-636: The Donghak Peasant Revolution in 1894 provided a seminal pretext for direct military intervention by Japan in the affairs of Korea. In April 1894, Joseon asked for Chinese assistance in ending the revolt. In response, Japanese leaders, citing a violation of the Convention of Tientsin as a pretext, decided upon military intervention to challenge China. On 3 May 1894, 1,500 Qing forces appeared in Incheon . On 23 July 1894, Japan attacked Seoul in defiance of

2756-522: The Government-General Building (1916–26), on the site. Only a handful of iconic structures survived, including the Throne Hall and Gyeonghoeru Pavilion. Restoration efforts have been ongoing since 1990. The Government-General Building was removed in 1996 and Heungnyemun Gate (2001) and Gwanghwamun Gate (2006–2010) were reconstructed in their original locations and forms. Reconstructions of

2862-584: The Japan–Korea Treaty of 1882 indemnified the families of the Japanese victims, paid reparations to the Japanese government in the amount of 500,000 yen, and allowed a company of Japanese guards to be stationed at the Japanese legation in Seoul. The struggle between the Heungseon Daewongun's followers and those of Queen Min was further complicated by competition from a Korean independence faction known as

2968-682: The Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905 , and then ruled the country indirectly through the Japanese Resident-General of Korea . After forcing the Korean Emperor Gojong to abdicate in 1907, Japan then formally colonized Korea with the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910 . The territory was then administered by the Governor-General of Chōsen , based in Keijō (Seoul), until the end of the colonial period. Japan made sweeping changes in Korea. It began

3074-544: The Minister of War of Japan , Terauchi Masatake , was given a mission to finalize Japanese control over Korea after the previous treaties (the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1904 and the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907 ) had made Korea a protectorate of Japan and had established Japanese hegemony over Korean domestic politics. On 22 August 1910, Japan effectively annexed Korea with the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910 signed by Ye Wanyong , Prime Minister of Korea, and Terauchi Masatake, who became

3180-541: The "Japanese empire pressured the outcry of the Korean Empire and people and forced by Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910 and full text of a treaty was false and text of the agreement was also false". They also declared the "Process and formality of "Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910" had huge deficiencies and therefore the treaty was null and void. This implied the March First Movement was not an illegal movement. From around

3286-404: The 10,000 won Korean banknotes (1983–2002 Series). Sujeongjeon ( 수정전 ; 修政殿 ), a building located to the south of Gyeonghoeru, was constructed in 1867 and used by the cabinet of the Joseon dynasty. It is Korea's Treasure No. 1760, where Jiphyeonjeon Hall was located during King Sejong's reign. The historical and architectural value is high because it is the only building that remains in

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3392-498: The 19th century, all of the palace's 7,700 rooms were restored under the leadership of Prince Regent Heungseon during the reign of King Gojong . Some 500 buildings were restored on a site of over 40 hectares . The architectural principles of ancient Korea were incorporated into the tradition and appearance of the Joseon royal court. In the early 20th century, much of the palace was systematically destroyed by Imperial Japan during its occupation of Korea . On January 21, 1963, it

3498-646: The Imperial Palace on 20 September 1905, to seek political support from the United States despite her diplomatic rudeness. However, it was after exchanging opinions through the Taft–Katsura agreement on 27 July 1905, that America and Japan would not interfere with each other on colonial issues. Under the Treaty of Portsmouth , signed in September 1905, Russia acknowledged Japan's "paramount political, military, and economic interest" in Korea. Two months later, Korea

3604-520: The Inner Court and Crown Prince's residence have also been completed. The current total area is 415,800 square metres (4,476,000 sq ft). Gyeongbokgung was originally constructed in 1394 by King Taejo , the first king and the founder of the Joseon dynasty , and its name was conceived by an influential government minister named Jeong Do-jeon . Afterwards, the palace was continuously expanded during

3710-458: The Japanese government took stronger measures. On 19 July 1907, Emperor Gojong was forced to relinquish his imperial authority and appoint the Crown Prince as regent. Japanese officials used this concession to force the accession of the new Emperor Sunjong following abdication, which was never agreed to by Gojong. Neither Gojong nor Sunjong were present at the 'accession' ceremony. Sunjong was to be

3816-569: The Japanese rule of Colonial Korea and the Korean War include: Modern archaeological surveys have brought 330 building foundations to light. In 1989, the South Korean government started a 40-year initiative to rebuild the hundreds of structures that were destroyed by the colonial government of the Empire of Japan , during the period of occupied Colonial Korea (1910–1945). In 1995, the Japanese General Government Building , after many controversial debates about its fate,

3922-606: The Korean Imperial Museum in 1908 to preserve the treasures in the Gyeongbokgung , was retained under the Japanese administration but renamed Museum of the Yi Dynasty in 1938. The Governor-General instituted a law in 1933 in order to preserve Korea's most important historical artifacts. The system established by this law, retained as the present-day National Treasures of South Korea and National Treasures of North Korea ,

4028-479: The Korean government had been advised by the Japanese government "that hereafter the police matters of Seoul will be controlled by the Japanese gendarmerie" and "that a Japanese police inspector will be placed in each prefecture". A large number of Koreans organized themselves in education and reform movements, but Japanese dominance in Korea had become a reality. In June 1907, the Second Peace Conference

4134-565: The Korean government's demand for withdrawal, and then occupied it and started the Sino-Japanese War. Japan won the First Sino-Japanese War , and China signed the Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895. Among its many stipulations, the treaty recognized "the full and complete independence and autonomy of Korea", thus ending Joseon's tributary relationship with Qing, leading to the proclamation of the full independence of Joseon in 1895. At

4240-497: The Korean royal family. In 1894, the Japanese occupied the palace and forced Gojong to establish a pro-Japanese government. In 1895, after the assassination of Empress Myeongseong by Japanese agents, her husband, Emperor Gojong , left the palace. The Imperial Family never returned to Gyeongbokgung. In 1915, it was used as the site for the Joseon Industrial Exhibition with new exhibition buildings being erected in

4346-702: The Progressive Party ( Gaehwa-dang ), as well as the Conservative faction. While the former sought Japan's support, the latter sought China's support. On 4 December 1884, the Progressive Party, assisted by the Japanese, attempted the Gapsin Coup , in which they attempted to maintain Gojong but replace the government with a pro-Japanese one. They also wished to liberate Korea from Chinese suzerainty. However, this proved short-lived, as conservative Korean officials requested

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4452-497: The United States . The legacy of Japanese colonization was hotly contested even just after its end, and is still extremely controversial. There is a significant range of opinions in both South Korea and Japan, and historical topics regularly cause diplomatic issues. Within South Korea, a particular focus is the role of the numerous ethnic Korean collaborators with Japan , who have been variously punished or left alone. This controversy

4558-536: The altar. Having established economic and military dominance in Korea in October 1904, Japan reported that it had developed 25 reforms which it intended to introduce into Korea by gradual degrees. Among these was the intended acceptance by the Korean Financial Department of a Japanese Superintendent, the replacement of Korean Foreign Ministers and consuls by Japanese and the "union of military arms" in which

4664-534: The amount of land taken over by private Japanese companies. Many former Korean landowners, as well as agricultural workers, became tenant farmers , having lost their entitlements almost overnight because they could not pay for the land reclamation and irrigation improvements forced on them. Compounding the economic stresses imposed on the Korean peasantry, the authorities forced Korean peasants to do long days of compulsory labor to build irrigation works; Japanese imperial officials made peasants pay for these projects in

4770-413: The amount they took to eat dropped precipitously, causing much resentment among them. By 1910 an estimated 7 to 8% of all arable land in Korea had come under Japanese control. This ratio increased steadily; as of the years 1916, 1920, and 1932, the ratio of Japanese land ownership increased from 36.8 to 39.8 to 52.7%. The level of tenancy was similar to that of farmers in Japan itself; however, in Korea,

4876-515: The basis of written proof (deeds, titles, and similar documents). The system denied ownership to those who could not provide such written documentation; these turned out to be mostly high-class and impartial owners who had only traditional verbal cultivator-rights . Japanese landlords included both individuals and corporations (such as the Oriental Development Company ). Because of these developments, Japanese landownership soared, as did

4982-407: The building to its original specifications and design. Gangnyeongjeon consists of corridors and fourteen rectangular chambers, each seven chambers located to the left and right side of the building in a layout out like a checkerboard. The king used the central chamber while the court attendants occupied the remaining side chambers to protect, assist, and to receive orders. The building rests on top of

5088-561: The building's lower height, was used by the late queen's assistants. The building and the decorative walls were registered as Korea's Treasure No. 809 on January 8, 1985. Jibokjae ( 집옥재 ; 集玉齋 ), located next to Geoncheonggung Residence, is a two-story private library used by King Gojong . In 1876, a major fire occurred in Gyeongbokgung, and King Gojong , for a brief period, moved and resided in Changdeokgung Palace. He eventually moved back to Gyeongbokgung in 1888, but he had

5194-408: The contemporary Chinese, and its roof formations, interior screens, and columns also show Chinese influences. Its architecture possibly was meant to give it an exotic appearance. Jibokjae is flanked by Parujeong ( 팔우정 ; 八隅亭 ), an octagonal two-story pavilion, to the left and Hyeopgildang ( 협길당 ; 協吉堂 ) to the right. Parujeong was constructed to store books, while Hyeopgildang served as

5300-420: The defiant Korean queen and intervened in the Donghak Peasant Revolution . After Japan defeated China in the 1894–1895 First Sino–Japanese War , Joseon became nominally independent and declared the short-lived Korean Empire . Japan then defeated Russia in the 1904–1905 Russo-Japanese War , making it the sole regional power. It then moved quickly to fully absorb Korea. It first made Korea a protectorate with

5406-439: The entire country. Japan was in control of the media, law as well as government by physical power and regulations. In March 2010, 109 Korean intellectuals and 105 Japanese intellectuals met in the 100th anniversary of Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910 and they declared this annexation treaty null and void. They declared these statements in each of their capital cities (Seoul and Tōkyō) with a simultaneous press conference. They announced

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5512-460: The far-right nationalist group Nippon Kaigi , of which Fumio Kishida and 57% of his cabinet are members, deny that they were forced to work at all, and claim that even the pubescent girls consented to sex work and were compensated reasonably. After the surrender of Japan at the end of the war, Korea was liberated, although it was immediately divided under the rule of the Soviet Union and of

5618-459: The first Governor-General of Chōsen . The treaty became effective the same day and was published one week later. The treaty stipulated: Both the protectorate and the annexation treaties were declared already void in the 1965 Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea . This period is also known as Military Police Reign Era (1910–19) in which Police had the authority to rule

5724-399: The form of heavy taxes, impoverishing many of them and causing even more of them lose their land. Although many other subsequent developments placed ever greater strain on Korea's peasants, Japan's rice shortage in 1918 was the greatest catalyst for hardship. During that shortage, Japan looked to Korea for increased rice cultivation; as Korean peasants started producing more for Japan, however,

5830-448: The grounds. Starting from 1911, the colonial government of the Empire of Japan systemically demolished all but 10 buildings during the Japanese occupation of Korea and hosted numerous exhibitions in Gyeongbokgung, ongoing demotion was opposed by Yanagi Sōetsu . In 1926, the government constructed the massive Japanese General Government Building in front of the throne hall, Geunjeongjeon  [ ko ] , in order to eradicate

5936-425: The help of Chinese forces stationed in Korea. The coup was put down by Chinese troops, and a Korean mob killed both Japanese officers and Japanese residents in retaliation. Some leaders of the Progressive Party, including Kim Ok-gyun , fled to Japan, while others were executed. For the next 10 years, Japanese expansion into the Korean economy was approximated only by the efforts of tsarist Russia . The outbreak of

6042-729: The historiography of this era. During the period of Japanese colonial rule, Korea was officially known as Chōsen ( 朝鮮 ) , although the former name continued to be used internationally. In South Korea, the period is usually described as the "Imperial Japanese compulsive occupation period" ( Korean :  일제강점기 ; Hanja :  日帝强占期 ; RR :  Ilje Gangjeomgi ). Other terms, although often considered obsolete, include "Japanese Imperial Period" ( 일제시대 ; 日帝時代 ; Ilje Sidae ), "The dark Japanese Imperial Period" ( 일제암흑기 ; 日帝暗黑期 ; Ilje Amheukgi ), and " Wae (Japanese) administration period" ( 왜정시대 ; 倭政時代 ; Wae-jeong Sidae ). In Japan,

6148-470: The idea of Yin & Yang. When Gyeonghoeru was originally built in 1412, these stone pillars were decorated with sculptures depicting dragons rising to the sky, but these details were not reproduced when the building was rebuilt in the 19th century. Three stone bridges connect the building to the palace grounds, and corners of the balustrades around the island are decorated with sculptures depicting twelve Zodiac animals. Gyeonghoeru used to be represented on

6254-549: The infrastructure projects were designed to extract resources from the peninsula, and not to benefit its people. Most of Korea's infrastructure built during this time was destroyed during the 1950–1953 Korean War . These conditions led to the birth of the Korean independence movement , which acted both politically and militantly sometimes within the Japanese Empire, but mostly from outside of it. Koreans were also subjected to

6360-582: The involuntary relocation of workers to Japan itself as needed. The combination of immigrants and forced laborers during World War II brought the total to over 2 million Koreans in Japan by the end of the war, according to estimates by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers . Gyeongbokgung Gyeongbokgung ( Korean :  경복궁 ; Hanja :  景福宮 ; lit.  Blessing Scenery Palace), also known as Gyeongbokgung Palace ,

6466-412: The jury awarded the commission to Yoo Kerl of iArc on February 18, 2008. Yoo said, "Major keywords for designing the new building are traditions, citizens, future. I analysed low-rise horizontal elements, curvaceousness, and shades of leaves in our traditional architectural characteristics, and I applied these to the design so I can recall comfortable feelings of old things." In 2012, the new City Hall

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6572-524: The king carried out his executive duties and held meetings with the top government officials in Sajeongjeon. Two separate side buildings, Cheonchujeon ( 천추전 ; 千秋殿 ) and Manchunjeon ( 만춘전 ; 萬春殿 ), flank the west and east of Sajeongjeon, and while Sajeongjeon is not equipped with a heating system, these buildings are equipped with Ondols for their use in the colder months. Gyeonghoeru ( 경회루 ; 慶會樓 ), also known as Gyeonghoeru Pavilion,

6678-459: The king when he is asleep. Gyotaejeon ( 교태전 ; 交泰殿 ), also called Gyotaejeon Hall, is a building used as the main residing quarters by the queen during the Joseon Dynasty. The building is located behind Gangnyeongjeon, the king's quarters, and contains the queen's bed chamber. It was first constructed in around 1440, the 22nd year of King Sejong the Great . King Sejong, who was noted to have

6784-435: The lack of experts in Korean art at overseas museums and institutions, alterations made to artifacts that obscure their origin, and that moving Korean artifacts within what was previously internationally recognized Japanese territory was lawful at the time. The South Korean government has been continuing its efforts to repatriate Korean artifacts from museums and private collections overseas. The royal palace Gyeongbokgung

6890-563: The landowners were mostly Japanese, while the tenants were all Koreans. As often occurred in Japan itself, tenants had to pay over half their crop in rent. By the 1930s the growth of the urban economy and the exodus of farmers to the cities had gradually weakened the hold of the landlords. With the growth of the wartime economy throughout the Second World War , the government recognized landlordism as an impediment to increased agricultural productivity, and took steps to increase control over

6996-412: The last ruler of the Joseon dynasty, founded in 1392. On 24 July 1907, a treaty was signed under the leadership of Lee Wan-yong and Ito Hirobumi to transfer all rights of Korea to Japan . This led to a large-scale righteous army movement among Koreans, and disbanded troops joined the resistance forces. Japan's response to this was a scorched earth tactic using division-sized troops, which resulted in

7102-665: The leadership of Regent Heungseon Daewongun . The restoration was completed on a grand scale, with 330 buildings crowded together in a labyrinthine configuration. Within the palace walls were the Outer Court ( oejeon ), offices for the king and state officials, and the Inner Court ( naejeon ), which included living quarters for the royal family as well as gardens for leisure. Within its extensive precincts were other palaces, large and small, including Junggung (the Queen's residence) and Donggung (the Crown Prince's residence). Due to its status as

7208-495: The military efforts of World War II led to organized official recruitment of Koreans to work in mainland Japan, initially through civilian agents, and later directly, often involving elements of coercion. As the labor shortage increased, by 1942, the Japanese authorities extended the provisions of the National Mobilization Law to include the conscription of Korean workers for factories and mines in Korea, Manchukuo , and

7314-465: The military of Korea would be modeled after the Japanese military. These reforms were forestalled by the prosecution of the Russo-Japanese War from 8 February 1904, to 5 September 1905, which Japan won, thus eliminating Japan's last rival to influence in Korea. Frustrated by this, King Gojong invited Alice Roosevelt Longworth , who was on a tour of Asian countries with William Howard Taft , to

7420-399: The minister Jeong Do-jeon , means "diligent governance hall". Constructed mainly of wood, Geunjeongjeon sits on the center of a large rectangular courtyard, on top of a two-tiered stone platform. This two-tiered platform is lined with detailed balustrades and is decorated with numerous sculptures depicting imaginary and real animals, such as dragons and phoenixes. The stone-paved courtyard

7526-507: The mountain Bugaksan behind it and the Street of Six Ministries (today's Sejongno ) outside Gwanghwamun Gate , the main entrance to the palace, Gyeongbokgung was situated in the heart of the Korean capital city. It was steadily expanded before being reduced to ashes during the Japanese invasion of 1592 . For the next 273 years the palace grounds were left derelict until being rebuilt in 1867 under

7632-502: The movement of armed resistance organizations in Korea to Manchuria. Amid this confusion, on 26 October 1909, Ahn Jung-geun , a former volunteer soldier, assassinated Ito Hirobumi in Harbin . Meanwhile, pro-Japanese populist groups such as the Iljinhoe helped Japan by being fascinated by Japan's pan-Asianism , thinking that Korea would have autonomy like Austria-Hungary . It was adopted as

7738-666: The north wing of the palace. The Heungseon Daewongun returned to the royal palace the same day. On 11 February 1896, Gojong and the crown prince fled for protection at the Russian legation in Seoul, from which he governed for about a year. In 1896, various Korean activists formed the Independence Club . They advocated a number of societal reforms, including democracy and a constitutional monarchy, and pushed for closer ties to Western countries in order to counterbalance Japanese influence. It went on to be influential in Korean politics for

7844-413: The outer space corresponding to the west side of Geunjeongjeon Hall. Gangnyeongjeon ( 강녕전 ; 康寧殿 ), also called Gangnyeongjeon Hall, is a building used as the king's main residing quarters. First constructed in 1395, the fourth year of King Taejo , the building contains the king's bed-chamber. Destroyed during the Japanese invasions of Korea in 1592, the building was rebuilt when Gyeongbokgung

7950-451: The pre-existing Jibokjae building disassembled and moved from Changdeokgung to the present location in 1891. Its name, Jibokjae , translates loosely in English as the "Hall of Collecting Jade". The building uniquely shows heavy influence of Chinese architecture instead of traditional Korean palace architecture. Its side walls were entirely constructed in brick, a method commonly employed by

8056-499: The preferential treatment given to newly trained troops, the Daewongun's forces, or "old military", killed a Japanese training cadre, and attacked the Japanese legation . Japanese diplomats, policemen, students, and some Min clan members were also killed during the incident. The Daewongun was briefly restored to power, only to be forcibly taken to China by Chinese troops dispatched to Seoul to prevent further disorder. In August 1882,

8162-670: The proclamation "Matter Concerning the Changing of Korean Names" ( 朝鮮人ノ姓名改称ニ関スル件 ) was issued, barring ethnic Koreans from taking Japanese names and retroactively reverting the names of Koreans who had already registered under Japanese names back to the original Korean ones. By 1939, however, this position was reversed and Japan's focus had shifted towards cultural assimilation of the Korean people; Imperial Decree 19 and 20 on Korean Civil Affairs ( Sōshi-kaimei ) went into effect, whereby ethnic Koreans were forced to surrender their traditional use of clan-based Korean family name system, in favor of

8268-431: The reign of King Taejong and King Sejong the Great . It was severely damaged by fire in 1553, and its costly restoration, ordered by King Myeongjong , was completed in the following year. However, four decades later, Gyeongbokgung was burnt to the ground during the Japanese invasions of Korea of 1592–1598 when Koreans angry at the court of King Seonjo for evacuating Seoul torched the royal residence. The royal court

8374-528: The rural sector through the formation in Japan in 1943 of the Central Agricultural Association ( 中央農会 , chūō nōkai ) , a compulsory organization under the wartime command economy . The Japanese government had hoped emigration to its colonies would mitigate the population boom in the naichi (内地), but had largely failed to accomplish this by 1936. According to figures from 1934, Japanese in Chōsen numbered approximately 561,000 out of

8480-563: The same time, Japan suppressed the peasant revolt with Korean government forces. The Japanese minister to Korea, Miura Gorō , orchestrated a plot against 43-year-old Queen Min (later given the title of " Empress Myeongseong "), and on 8 October 1895, she was assassinated by Japanese agents. In 2001, Russian reports on the assassination were found in the archives of the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation. The documents included

8586-502: The short time that it operated, to the chagrin of Gojong. Gojong eventually forcefully disbanded the organization in 1898. In October 1897, Gojong returned to the palace Deoksugung , and proclaimed the founding of the Korean Empire at the royal altar Hwangudan . This symbolicly asserted Korea's independence from China, especially as Gojong demolished a reception hall that was once used to entertain Chinese ambassadors in order to build

8692-617: The small town of Wanpaoshan in Manchuria near Changchun , "violent clashes" broke out between the local Chinese and Korean immigrants on 2 July 1931. The Chosun Ilbo , a major Korean newspaper, misreported that many Koreans had died in the clashes, sparking a Chinese exclusion movement in urban areas of the Korean Peninsula. The worst of the rioting occurred in Pyongyang on 5 July. Approximately 127 Chinese people were killed, 393 wounded, and

8798-453: The south of Geunjeongjeon, is the main gate to the courtyard and to Geunjeongjeon. The gate is divided into three separate aisles, and only the king was allowed to walk through the center. Geunjeongjeon was originally constructed in 1395 during the reign of King Taejo, but was burned down in 1592 when the Japanese invaded Korea . The present building was built in 1867 when Gyeongbokgung was being reconstructed. The name Geunjeongjeon, created by

8904-534: The south side of the island in 1953. Gwanghwamun ( 광화문 ; 光化門 ) is the main gate of Gyeongbokgung. Geunjeongjeon ( 근정전 ; 勤政殿 ), also known as Geunjeongjeon Hall, is the throne hall where the king formally granted audiences to his officials, gave declarations of national importance, and greeted foreign envoys and ambassadors during the Joseon period. The building was designated as Korea's National Treasure No. 223 on January 8, 1985. Geunjeongmun ( 근정문 ; 勤政門 ), aligned and located directly to

9010-529: The symbol and heritage of the Joseon dynasty. Gwanghwamun Gate, the main and south gate of Gyeongbokgung, was relocated by the Japanese to the east of the palace. A further exhibition, the Chosun Exhibition , followed in 1929. The palace faced further damage when the wooden structure of the relocated Gwanghwamun Gate was completely destroyed amid the devastation of the Korean War . Gyeongbokgung's original 19th-century palace buildings that survived both

9116-500: The symbol of national sovereignty, Gyeongbokgung was extensively damaged during the Japanese occupation of the early 20th century. In 1911, ownership of land at the palace was transferred to the Japanese Governor-General . In 1915, on the pretext of holding an exhibition, more than 90% of the buildings were torn down. Following the exhibition, the Japanese leveled whatever still remained and built their colonial headquarters,

9222-491: The term "Chōsen of the Japanese-Governed Period" ( 日本統治時代の朝鮮 , Nippon Tōchi-jidai no Chōsen ) has been used. On 27 February 1876, the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1876 was signed. It was designed to open up Korea to Japanese trade, and the rights granted to Japan under the treaty were similar to those granted Western powers in Japan following the visit of Commodore Perry in 1854. The treaty ended Korea's status as

9328-504: The testimony of King Gojong, several witnesses of the assassination, and Karl Ivanovich Weber 's report to Aleksey Lobanov-Rostovsky , the Foreign Minister of Russia, by Park Jonghyo. Weber was the chargé d'affaires at the Russian legation in Seoul at that time. According to a Russian eyewitness, Seredin-Sabatin, an employee of the king, a group of Japanese agents entered Gyeongbokgung , killed Queen Min, and desecrated her body in

9434-495: The time of the First Sino-Japanese War of 1894–1895, Japanese merchants started settling in towns and cities in Korea seeking economic opportunity. By 1908 the number of Japanese settlers in Korea was somewhere below the figure of 500,000, comprising one of the nikkei communities in the world at the time. Many Japanese settlers showed interest in acquiring agricultural land in Korea even before Japanese land-ownership

9540-596: The traditional state of Korean villages, serving as evidence that Korea was "backwards" and needed to be modernized. In 1925, the Japanese government established the Korean History Compilation Committee , and it was administered by the Governor-General and engaged in collecting Korean historical materials and compiling Korean history. According to the Doosan Encyclopedia , some mythology

9646-421: Was a range in what people experienced. Some Japanese politicians and scholars, including former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida , deny that Koreans were forced laborers, and instead claim that they were "requisitioned against their will" to work. Women and girls aged 12–17 were controversially forced into sexual slavery by Japan as " comfort women ". A number of modern Japanese scholars and politicians, notably from

9752-559: Was appointed for the commander of Japanese military police forces. Japanese finally replaced Imperial Korean police forces in June 1910, and they combined police forces and military police, firmly establishing the rule of military police. After the annexation, Akashi started to serve as the Chief of Police. These military police officers started to have great authority over Koreans. Not only Japanese but also Koreans served as police officers. In May 1910,

9858-567: Was demolished in order to reconstruct Heungnyemun Gate and its cloisters . The National Museum of Korea , then located on the palace grounds, were moved to temporary accommodations in December 1996, before being relocated to a new building in Yongsan District in 2005. By the end of 2009, it was estimated that approximately 40 percent of the structures that were standing before the Japanese occupation of Korea were restored or reconstructed. As

9964-527: Was designated as a cultural property. Since the 1990s, the walled palace complex is gradually being restored to its original form. It also houses the National Palace Museum and the National Folk Museum within the premises of the complex. Gyeongbokgung, located in north of Gwanghwamun Square, was built three years after the Joseon dynasty was founded and it served as its main palace. With

10070-522: Was held in The Hague . Emperor Gojong secretly sent three representatives to bring the problems of Korea to the world's attention. The three envoys, who questioned the legality of the protectorate convention, were refused access to the public debates by the international delegates. One of these representatives was missionary and historian Homer Hulbert . Out of despair, one of the Korean representatives, Yi Tjoune , committed suicide at The Hague. In response,

10176-452: Was incorporated. The committee supported the theory of a Japanese colony on the Korean Peninsula called Mimana , which, according to E. Taylor Atkins, is "among the most disputed issues in East Asian historiography." Japan executed the first modern archaeological excavations in Korea. The Japanese administration also relocated some artifacts; for instance, a stone monument (棕蟬縣神祠碑), which

10282-476: Was intended to preserve Korean historical artifacts, including those not yet unearthed. Japan's 1871 Edict for the Preservation of Antiquities and Old Items could not be automatically applied to Korea due to Japanese law, which required an imperial ordinance to apply the edict in Korea. The 1933 law to protect Korean cultural heritages was based on the Japanese 1871 edict. Due to a waterway construction permit, in

10388-463: Was moved to the Changdeokgung Palace . Gyeongbokgung site was left in ruins for the next three centuries. In 1867, during the regency of Daewongun , the palace buildings were reconstructed and formed a massive complex with 330 buildings and 5,792 rooms. Standing on 4,657,576 square feet (432,703 square meters) of land, Gyeongbokgung again became an iconic symbol for both the Korean nation and

10494-525: Was obliged to become a Japanese protectorate by the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905 and the "reforms" were enacted, including the reduction of the Korean Army from 20,000 to 1,000 men by disbanding all garrisons in the provinces, retaining only a single garrison in the precincts of Seoul. On 6 January 1905, Horace Allen, head of the American Legation in Seoul reported to his Secretary of State, John Hay, that

10600-434: Was officially legalized in 1906. Governor-General Terauchi Masatake facilitated settlement through land reform . The Korean land-ownership system featured absentee landlords, only partial owner-tenants and cultivators with traditional (but no legal proof of) ownership. By 1920, 90 percent of Korean land had proper ownership of Koreans. Terauchi's new Land Survey Bureau conducted cadastral surveys that established ownership on

10706-518: Was opened to the public on 27 August and the city government moved in on 1 September. The project, which took four years and five months to complete, also includes multipurpose halls and cultural facilities for citizens. The old building, registered as a cultural asset, has been converted into a library , and boasts a collection of more than 200,000 books. 37°33′59.06″N 126°58′40.16″E  /  37.5664056°N 126.9778222°E  / 37.5664056; 126.9778222 This article about

10812-546: Was originally located in the Liaodong Peninsula , then under Japanese control , was taken out of its context and moved to Pyongyang . As of April 2020, 81,889 Korean cultural artifacts are in Japan. According to the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, not all the artifacts were moved illegally. Adding to the challenge of repatriating illegally exported Korean cultural properties is

10918-690: Was partially destroyed beginning in the 1910s, in order to make way for the Japanese General Government Building as well as the colonial Chōsen Industrial Exhibition . Hundreds of historic buildings in Deoksugung were also destroyed to make way for the Yi Royal Family Museum of Fine Art  [ ko ] . The displays in the museum reportedly intentionally contrasted traditional Korean art with examples of modern Japanese art, in order to portray Japan as progressive and legitimize Japanese rule. The National Palace Museum of Korea , originally built as

11024-484: Was reconstructed in 1867, but it was again burned down by a major fire in November 1876 and had to be restored in 1888 following the orders of King Gojong . However, when Huijeongdang of Changdeokgung Palace was burned down by a fire in 1917, the Japanese government dismembered the building and used its construction materials to restore Huijeongdang in 1920. Current Gangnyeongjeon was built in 1994, meticulously restoring

11130-448: Was reconstructed in 1867. Nevertheless, when Daejojeon of Changdeokgung Palace was burned down by a fire in 1917, the Japanese government disassembled the building and recycled its construction materials to restore Daejojeon. The current building was reconstructed in 1994 according to its original design and specifications. The building, like Gangnyeongjeon, does not have a top roof ridge called yongmaru . Amisan ( 아미산 ; 峨嵋山 ),

11236-576: Was the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty . Built in 1395, it is located in northern Seoul , South Korea . The largest of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon dynasty, Gyeongbokgung served as the home of the royal family and the seat of government. Gyeongbokgung continued to serve as the main palace of the Joseon dynasty until the premises were destroyed by fire during the Imjin War (1592–1598) and abandoned for two centuries. However, in

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