Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty

=Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty= On August 22, 1910 the official annexation of the Korean Empire was carried through by the Japanese with the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty. The first article stated, "His Majesty the Emperor of Korea makes the complete and permanent cession to His Majesty the Emperor of Japan of all rights of sovereignty over the whole of Korea." The treaty was not signed by Emperor Sungjong, though the official seal was affixed to the document. Korean Prime Minister Lee Wan-Yong, the General Party of Attorney to the Emperor, and Resident General Count Terauchi Masatake of Japan signed the treaty, which started a 35-year period of Japanese colonial rule in Korea.

Today, the treaty is referred to by Koreans as "Hanil Hapbang Neugyak”, or "Coerced treaty". August 22nd, in modern-day Korea, is remembered as the day of national shame. In 1965, both the protectorate and the annexation treaty were determined to be invalid because they were achieved through threat and force.

Kawasaki, Yutaka. "Was the 1910 Annexation Treaty Between Korea and Japan Concluded Legally?." Murdoch University Electronic Journal of Law 3. (1996): n. pag. Web. 5 Nov 2010. .

"Treaty of Annexation Annexation of Korea by Japan." USC-UCLA Joint East Asian Studies Center (1910): n. pag. Web. 5 Nov 2010. .