러일전쟁의 한 단면 - 그것은 어떻게 대한제국의 망국과 연관되었나? -

Abstract

[1] The Russo-Japanese War was crash between two countries, Russia, who wanted to launch to Pacific Ocean, and Japan, who wanted to construct bridgehead on the land to swallow the Korean peninsula. Contrary to the SinoJapanese War, that was a war of Japan, who wanted to escape from the hard time of early capitalism, Russo-Japanese War was a struggle between two countries to obtain the territorial ground on the Korean peninsula. So as to say, Russo-Japanese War was a reluctant and unprepared war for Russia against Japanese sunrising attack on the third land on Korea. [2] A half of the Russo-Japanese War was diplomatic struggle rather than of bayonets. That War was victory of Japanese diplomacy. While the Russia was timid under the feudalism, Japanese under the leadership of count Ito Hirobumi, leading Mutsu Munemitsu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kurino Shinichiro, Cosul General in Washington, Komura Jutaro, Viceminister of Foreign Afaires, and Minister of Justice concurrently Plenipotentiary Extraordinary Ambassador, Kaneko Kentaro, were superior to those of Russia in capacity and loyalty, Some of them were Member of “The Japan Club of Harvard University” under the auspices of Theodore Roosevelt. They were core group in Japanese diplomatic circle. [3] The reason of defeat of Russia army derived form the corruption in the Tsar Palace. The War was fighting between the corrupted Romanov Dynasty and Japanese patriotic militia. In spite of many pleads of “better life of the people,” corruption of royal family obstinately oppressed the mass as heritage, under which they lost their willingness morale to fight against Japan. [4] Russo-Japanese War was broken out in the innocent Korea for which was irresponsible. What is worse was that it influenced upon the ruin of Chosun Dynasty(Korea). Korea was really irresponsible for the War. No. At that time Korea was in charge of its own country. Whether was it neutrality or participation in the war on a certain side, Russia or Japan, but King Gojong hesitated and high officials counted their own interests. For them, the destiny of his country was not important. In this respect, the ruin of Korea on account of war between Japan and Russia was Korea’s diplomatic fault. Whether of participation on a side or neutrality was not important. What was really necessary was royal resolve and unified decision of Royal Court. But They were not capable neither wise nor patriotic. The first mistake was King’s escape to Russian Consulate after the Murder of Queen(1895). [5] Why do we have to reflect the past tragic war? That is because the historical stage of the Russo-Japanese war in 1890-1900s was nothing changed in spite of a century’s lag-time. In the long history, a century is not enough to change or improve history fundamentally, so we have to reconsider the historical lesson form the war, reflecting upon this age. After 120 years, Russo-Japanese war has not ended, but suspended. The War is present progressive up to now.