거문도사건(1885)을 둘러싼 영·러의 대립 양상과 러시아의 대응

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the process of Russian perception of Port Hamilton(Geomundo) and the change in military policy in relation to the British occupation of Port Hamilton. The Port Hamilton Incident was an incident in which the British Navy illegally occupied Port Hamilton for about two years from April 15, 1885 to February 27, 1887. Britain used Russia’s expansionary policy as a justification for its occupation of Port Hamilton, but in fact, Russia had no intention of occupying Port Hamilton. Rather, Russia valued Tsushima’s strategic value more than Port Hamilton as an exit from East Asia to the Pacific Ocean. Britain, who was interested in occupying Port Hamilton early on, recognized the increased movement of the Russian fleet after the Choseon-Russia secret agreement(朝露密約) as Russia’s territorial ambition for Choseon. When military tensions with Russia were formed in Afghanistan in Central Asia, the British attempted to take over Port Hamilton and resolve it. After the British occupation of Port Hamilton, Russia had to come up with countermeasures. Due to the poor military strength of the Maritime Province, the main countermeasure was the expansion of an army unit to defend against the British army landing in Vladivostok. At the same time, Russia, who judged that maintaining a strong fleet in the Chinese Sea was a much more reasonable alternative, gave up the acquisition of ice-free port on the Korean Peninsula, while also attempting to expand the Pacific Fleet. Despite attempts to build up arms, until the completion of the Siberian railway, Russia sought political and diplomatic compromise rather than military response to the Choseon issue. This Russian policy stance served as an opportunity for Choseon and Russia to become closer.