Korea and Japan

Prior to 1876, Korea was considered a protectorate of China.  That changed with the signing of the Japan-Korea Treaty in 1876, effectively opening up trade with Korea for Japan.

Believing their country to be overcrowded, the Japanese government encouraged their people to emigrate to Korea.  In the early Twentieth Century, Japanese settlers in Korea amounted to about 170,000.  

By 1904, Japan had established economic and military dominance over Korea.  Then, on August 22, 1910 (111 years ago), Japan effectively annexed Korea with the signing of another Japan-Korea Treaty.  

Under the new agreement, the Emperor of Korea ceded complete control of Korea to the Emperor of Japan.  This lasted until 1945 with the end of WWII.

By 1920, almost 40% of agricultural land in Korea belonged to Japanese.  By 1932, it was more than 50%.

In 1939, Japan attempted to force a cultural assimilation of Koreans.  They were required to end their use of traditional Korean names in favor of Japanese surnames.

During WWII, labor shortages in Japan led to the obligatory recruitment of about 670,000 Koreans to work there.

Starting in 1944, Japan started conscripting all eligible Korean males into its military or military industry.  As a result, about 200,000 Koreans served in the Japanese army.

Also, during WWII, Korean women were forced to become prostitutes for the benefit of Japanese soldiers.  They were referred to as "comfort women."

Japan surrendered to Allied Forces on August 15, 1945.  One result was the end of their occupation of Korea.  Unfortunately, Korea has been split in two since then, the northern half allied with China and Russia and the southern half allied with the United States.