Beginning the Russo-Japanese
War, Japan has launched a surprise attack on a Russian Naval
Base at Port Arthur as they and the Russians have been fighting
over who will influence Korea and whose influence would be the
best for that country. Although the Russians commended their bravery
and actions, the Japanese went on and defeated the Russian's Baltic
fleet, completely embarrassing the Russians. Ultimately being
succeeded at Tsushima, the Russians decided to make peace with
the Japanese at a peace 
conference in Portsmouth,
N.H., U.S.A. Being the mediator of the convention, President Theodore
Roosevelt of the United States of American witnessed that as of
the September 5, 1905 Treaty
of Portsmouth, Japan has control of the Liaotung Peninsula,
the South Manchurian Railroad, and half of Sakhalin Island. Japanese
have sole control in Korea. (1) Although we no longer have Russian
influence in our country, Japan has annexed us as part of their
own country. One of their goals is to completely modify our "history,
language, and even personal names in an effort to integrate Korea
culturally into the Japanese empire." (2)
Many have protested, carrying posters and signs along public streets
saying "Leave Korea alone!" or "Fight for your
own country!". This has resulted in thousands of deaths of
the native Koreans. One local states, "I lost my brother
a couple months ago because he was fighting for his independence.
He didn't do anything. He was just fighting for his rights. This
shows how little say Korea has in a war over their own country."
They have to witness this war for so long, but if they get involved,
their life can be in jeopardy. The question most of us, Koreans,
have brought up is, will we ever get our independence? The Japanese
have completely repressed our attempted independence
movement of March 1, 1919.
But will we ever see it happen, especially with the
peace treaty signed over the Russo-Japanese War? It is unfair
that it is up to Russia and Japan to decide the fate on our country
when it is our native homeland. Many are scared that they will
be stuck in Korea, even though they want to flee the country.
"If there were no independence movement (and also the Kwangju
student uprising of 1929) during 35 years of the Japanese colonial
rule, the Korean people today might be justified in believing
that their forebears were spineless and spiritless." (3)
It is not our ideal life to not be able to maintain our own culture
and language. It is not our ideal life to be run by the Japanese.
It is our ideal life to gain independence from all the countries
surrounding us who want to take over our small piece of land.
Many are trying to fight for Korea's independence, but it does
not seem to be too hopeful right now. The Japanese have worked
hard to gain our land, and it does not seem as if they are going
to be giving it up anytime soon. Will we presently attempt to
start a war with Japan? Could the Koreans beat the Japanese if
we had a war? If we try to do that, we would have to get a good
army to defeat a country that beat the powerful Russia. Japan
does not seem to be able to succeed. It will be a long road to
gain Korea's independence, but we will keep trying. We will fight
hard to maintain our culture and land.
Sources
1. "Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905," [http://www.onwar.com/aced/nation/jay/japan/frussojapanese1904.htm], December 16, 2000.
2. David I. Steinberg. The Republic of Korea. Boulder: Westview Press, Inc., 1989)
3. John Kie-chiang Oh. "[Hello Korea] The Independence Movement" [http://www.hankooki.com/kt_op/200102/t20010225174008481171.htm], February 25, 2001.
4. "The Treaty of Portsmouth 1905, September 5, 1905," [http://www.lib.byu.edu/~rdh/wwi/1914m/portsmouth.html], December 22, 1997
Images
1. Marcus Wendel. "Russo-Japanese War Factbook" [http://www.skalman.nu/russo-japanese/], January 31, 2001
2. "Treaty of Portsmouth & The Nobel Prize," [http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/life/nobelportsmouth.htm], January 31, 2002
3. "The Japanese Occupation and Korea's Independence Movement," [http://www.korea.net/2k/data/a/02/05/Content.htm], 2000-2001
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