The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-04-25
CoMMERcIAL KOREA.


1t discusses commercial and other con
dftions in Korea, showing area, popn
Iation, transportation facilities. rail
ways. telegraphs, postal service. and
foreign commerce, including import.
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 Inn
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 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 1871 the people of Manchu-
ria placed the country under vassalage,
ard until 1894 Korea recognized the
control of China by sending tribute
bearing missions annually to Picking
In 1894 an instruction led the country
to ask aid from China and Chinese
troops were sent. This action. being
looked upon by the Japanese as a step
toward the complete control of Korea
by China, precipitated a war between
China. and Japan u 1894, which result
ed favorab1y to Japan and was follow
ed by remuneration. OF Chinese sover-a
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. este. blishment
OF educational institutions, introduction
Of postal system, membership in the
International Postal Union, and re-
form of the judiciary.
Commercially the development of Ko-
Tea begins with 1876, when two ports,
Gensan and Fusan. were, upon the
inaistence of Japan, opened to trade
with that country only. In 1882 Admiral
shufeldt. OF the United States Navy,
visited Korea and secured a treaty of
friendship between the United States
and Korea by which American vessels
were given access to its treaty ports
and the safety of American vessels
and citizens assured. This was follow
ed by treaties with Germany and Great
Britain in 1888, 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 by visit from a Korean embassy
to Washington, sent to exchange rati-
f1cationz of the treaty. From this time
forward Korea was opened to foreign
trade and Western civilization, and the
Korean Government established its
legations in the United States and other |
great commercial nations. With the |
opening OF the treaty ports and the
establishment of commerce an official |
record of Korean imports and exports
began. This shows imports in 1884 al
mounting to about $500 600 and exports |
amounting to $475,oo By 1890 imports
had grown to $3.50. Ooe, and exports to
&. 975. 600. In 1894 imports and exports
fell considerably below those of 1890.
but in 1897 again increased, being for
that year OF imports about 5000. 900
and exports about four and one-half
million dollars. In 1902 the imports at
the treaty ports amounted to about
100000 and the exports CT merchan-
disc to about s4,2OO.0O0 In addition to
this, exports of gold amounted to over
s2,O0O.0OO. while the imports and exports
at other than treaty ports are estimated
as being sufficient to bring the total
commerce of 1902 UP to fully s15,oOOOOo,
exclusive Of gold exports, which. as
above indicated. amounted TO about So
100000.
The most important articles in the
eAkprt tFd0e are ft1e, Wnicn SHOWS al
annual expectation OF more than a mill
lion dollars; beans. a half million;
ginseng, nearly 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-half million dollars
per annurn; silk piece goods imported
from Japan and China amount to six
hundred thousand dollars per annum;
kerosene oil, about three hundred thou
sand dollars; railway materials, about
two hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars; mining supplies. about two hum
dred thousand dollars; and bags and d
ropes for packing. one hundred and
fifty thousand dollars. OF the cotton