Tragedy had struck Korea with war in August 1894. China and Japan both want supremacy in Korea because of our ideal location for trade. Although China has a large population, Japan had modernized and they were more prepared to fight than China. China can not control that many people, and it has slowed down the processes of modernizing.(1) The only reason Japan wanted to help us gain independence from China was for their own well being, not ours. Japan was very interested in the coal and iron that we hold, because it would help them advance at a faster pace. With the help of our ports, it will give them a greater advantage because of our location for them to recieve and trade goods. The conflict between both China and Japan marked a point in history that would prove that Korean people were treated like an item instead of a country.

Troops, from both China and Japan, were sent into Korea and it affected our life styles very greatly. A man I interviewed in the streets explained how his family was forced out of their home because the soldiers took it over as a place to stay. "The Japanese troops came into our house and kicked us out, acting as if we did not even live there. I am upset about this whole situation but I think it is very disrespectful that the troops ruined everything for us while we have not even done anything to them. So thank you for making my voice heard because I want the world to know how the Korean people are being treated in the Sino-Japanese War."
The Treaty of Shimonoseki helped end the conflicts between China and Japan and helped Korea gain independence.(2) Now that China has been forced to give us independence, we can try and become a stronger country and govern ourselves. The only predicament that we have left now, is getting away from Japans domination over us. Japan is like the big step-brother that we do not need because all they do is breath down
our backs and demand for more resources because their government is stronger and more modernized than ours. All Korean people want is true independence; not for it just to be written on paper but we want to be able to see changes happen.

Korean people are scared of Japans domination over our government and the Chinese government. After the treay, Japan still demanded for things from China. They are so power hungry that they will do anything to be on top and they will step on whoever and whatever gets in their way. It is good that they helped us achieve independence, but now it is time for them to step back and let us govern ourselves because now it is not true independence with Japan right there. I am sick and tired of being controlled by different countries. Can't they realize that we are our own country and we should have as many rights as they have? The Japanese will never be satisfied with what they have. They always want more. For example, now that they have our trading ports open for them, they made sure that they could get a hold of trading ports in China also. (5)

It will take a while for Korea to get back on its feet, but we will show the world that we are capable of taking care of ourselves. Let us make the world realize that we will fight to death till we have true Independence. Do not let the recovery from the war get us down. Just know there are people out there that will help you, because we need to unite if we want to become stronger at heart. Thank you for your time and I hope that this will bring warmth to your heart and know that there is hope for us.

Sources:

1. Wagner, Edward. A New History of Korea, 1984, London, England.

2. http://encyclopedia.com/articles/43212.html. "Sino-Japanese War"

3. www.macaumuseum.gov.mo/images/tempexhi/sinojapan/imgs/2.jpg

4. Japan, An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1993 ed., s.v. "Sino-Japanese War"

5. Simons, Geoff. Korea, The Search for Sovereignty. St. Martins Press, New York. 1995.