The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-04-26
COMMERCIAL KOREA.

1t discusses commercial ana otner CIVIL
ditions in Korea. showing area, popu-
lation. transportation facilities, rail-
ways. telegraphs. postal service ana
foreign commerce, including imports
and the countries from which they are
drawn, and exports and the countries
to which they are sent. The popula-
ton of Korea the monograph In ques-
ton puts at about fifteen millions IN
round numbers, the area at about
equal to that of the State of Kansas,
and the foreign commerce at about
twelve million dollars, Of which I'M
ports form about seven and one-half
millions. A part of the Chinese EN-
pire- prior to the Christian era, Korea
remained under the control of that
country until about the end of the SIX
teenth century, when the japanese
sent a large invading army into Korea
for the purpose OF driving out the Chi
nese and taking possession. The Japa-
nese rule, however, was comparatively
brief. and in 1927 the people of Manchu-
ria placed the country under vassalage,
and until 1894 Korea recognized the
control of China by sending tribute
bearing missions annually to Picking.
In 1894 an insurrection led the country
to ask aid from China, and Chinese
troops were sent. This action, being
looked upon by the Japanese as step
toward the complete control of Korea
by China, precipitated a war between
China and Japan in 1894, which result
ed favorably to Japan and was follow
Il I, int of IThinaca
eighty by the Korean King the substi-
tuition of japanese for Chinese influence,
and the introduction of many important
reforms under Japanese advisers. These
reforms included adjustment of taxa
ton, abolition of slavery, establishment
of educational institutions, Introduction
of a postal system membership in the
International Postal Union, and re-
form of the judiciary.
Commercially the development of ko-
rea begins with 1876 when two ports,
Gensan and Fusan, We're, upon the
insistence of Japan, opened to trade
with that country only. In 1882 Admiral
Shufeldt, of the United States Navy,
visited Korea and secured treaty of
friendship between the United states
and Korea by which American vessels
were given access to it's treaty ports
and tba safety of American vessels
and citizens assured. This was follow
cd nv treaties with Germany and Great
Britain in 1883. Russia and Italy in 1884,
France in 1856. Austria in 1892, and
China in 1897 The formation of the
treaty between Korea and the United
States in 1882 was Immediately follow
ed nv n visit from a Korean embassy
10 Nasbinpton sent TO exchange rati-
fcations of the treaty. From this time
forward Korea was opened to foreign
trade and Western civilization, and the
Korean Government established its
leoations i'm the United States and other
great commercial nations. With the
onening of the treaty ports and the
establishment of commerce an official
record of Korean imports and exports
began. This shows imports in 1884 a
morntinp To about $500. 900 and exports
amounting to $4,000 BY 1890 imports
had grown to So. $50, 600 and exports to
s.. g75 COO. In 1894 imports and exports
fell considerably below those of 1890,
but in 1897 again increased. being for
that year of imports about $4,000, 900
and exports about four and one-half
the treaty ports amounted TO about
81. 900 900 and the exports of merchan-
disc To about 81. 200. 900. In addition to
this. exports of gold amounted to over
50 GOO 600 while the imports and exports
ar other than treaty. ports are estimated
as being sufficient to bring the total
commerce of 1909 IN to fully SIS, 900, OOO
exclusive of gold exports, which, as
above indicated, amounted to about ST.
600 600,
The most important articles in the
export trade are rice. which shows an
annual expectation of more than a mil
lion dollars: beans, a half million;
ginseng, nearly a half million; and
hides, about one hundred thousand dol
lars in value in the latest available
year. OF the importations, cotton
goods form the largest item, from three
to three and one-halt million dollars
per annum: silk piece goods imported
from Japan and China amount to six
| hundred thousand dollars per annum;
kerosene oil, about. three hundred thou