Forming of modern Korean diplomacy with neighbor countries during the late 19th century

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K13374
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 03030:History of Asia and Africa-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Woman's Christian University
• Principal Investigator: Mayuko Mori 東京女子大学, 現代教養学部, 准教授 (30793541)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 朝鮮近代 / 高宗 / 韓国併合 / 中華 / 属国自主 / 交隣 / 事大

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Korea’s foreign relations during the late 19th century were primarily diplomatic in nature, but they did not always align with the practices of modern diplomacy. This was deeply connected with the concepts and practices of Chinese hegemony over Korea and the idea of gyorin (friendship with neighboring countries). Originally, gyorin were in the Chinese world order, but they began to diverge into distinct concepts.
This study focuses on how the Korean government managed its diplomatic efforts and international relations within this context. As one approach to this issue, this study addresses the development of Korea’s foreign relations and the formation of its diplomatic policy during its modernization; explores the development of Korea’s foreign policy from the late Joseon Dynasty through the Korean Empire (1876-1910).

Free Research Field

朝鮮近代史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本テーマに関する韓国の研究は、19世紀末の朝鮮外交の近代化に主眼を置き、国内の研究は、近年、朝鮮外交の「戦略」に着目してきた。しかし、朝鮮外交の近代化の基準や、戦略の具体的な方向性については十分な議論がなされていなかった。本研究は、19世紀末の中華秩序の変容に伴って生じた事大交隣の変容・解体過程と、日清戦争での日本の勝利による東アジア国際関係の変容に注目することで、19世紀末の朝鮮の清朝・日本との外交と、20世紀初頭の大韓帝国の日本・ロシアとの外交の連続・非連続を研究し、先行研究を補った。これは、日本史で議論されてきた「韓国併合」過程を、韓国史から捉え直す学術的意義をもつことにもつながった。