Finally, w ith the forced abdication of Emperor Sunjong, J apan formally annexed Korea in 1910. From the onstart of the Meiji Restoration , Japan had its eye on Korea. Under the first governor- general,Terauchi Masatake, Koreans suffered great oppression. He was the first of many to attmept the forced acculturation of Koreans and the systematic destruction of the Korean identity. His goal was the complete assimilation of Koreans into the Japanese mainstream.
Te rauchi implemented policies that targeted all forms of organized opposition.
All newspapers were suspended, political organizations were disbanded, and the right of assembly was banned. In one fatal swoop, political opposition was stymied. Despite th ese efforts, underground movements sprang into action and abroad, nationalist organizations rallied for international support of the Korean cause. The next major target was the education system . During this period, hundreds of school were built.