Eulsa Treaty

Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905

The treaty on display
Drafted	November 9, 1905; 111 years ago (1905-11-09)
Signed	November 17, 1905; 111 years ago (1905-11-17)
Location	Jungmyeongjeon Hall, Hanseong, Korea
Effective	November 17, 1905; 111 years ago (1905-11-17)
Signatories	Japan  Korea

The Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905, also known as the Eulsa Treaty or Japan–Korea Protectorate Treaty, was made between the Empire of Japan and the Korean Empire in 1905. Negotiations were concluded on November 17, 1905. The treaty deprived Korea of its diplomatic sovereignty and made Korea a protectorate of Imperial Japan. It was influenced by Imperial Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905.

In the metonymy Eulsa Treaty, the word Eulsa or Ulsa derives the Sexagenary Cycle's 42nd year of the Korean calendar, in which the treaty was signed. The treaty is identified by several names including Second Japan–Korea Convention (Japanese: 第二次日韓協約, Korean: 제2차 한일협약, 第二次韓日協約),Eulsa Restriction Treaty (Korean: 을사늑약, 乙巳勒約),Eulsa Protection Treaty (Japanese: 乙巳保護条約, Korean: 을사보호조약), and Korea Protection Treaty (Japanese: 韓国保護条約).

Following Imperial Japan’s victory in the Russo-Japanese War, with its subsequent withdrawal of Russian influence, and the Taft–Katsura Agreement, in which the United States allegedly agreed not to interfere with Japan in matters concerning Korea, the Japanese government sought to formalize its sphere of influence over the Korean Peninsula.

Delegates of both Empires met in Seoul to resolve differences in matters pertaining to Korea’s future foreign policy; however, with the Korean Imperial palace under occupation by Japanese troops, and the Imperial Japanese Army stationed at strategic locations throughout Korea, the Korean side was at a distinct disadvantage in the discussions.

On November 9, 1905, Itō Hirobumi arrived in Hanseong and gave a letter from the Emperor of Japan to Gojong, Emperor of Korea, asking him to sign the treaty. On November 15, 1905, he ordered Japanese troops to encircle the Korean imperial palace and threatened the emperor in order to force him to agree to the treaty.