The Korea–United States Treaty of 1882
1882-05-22
Korean and American representatives concluded a treaty at Chemulpo, now Incheon, on 22 May 1882. Korea’s first treaty with a Western power opened a formal relationship with the United States and gave the Americans a diplomatic foothold on the peninsula. [1]
China had helped negotiate the settlement and exercised considerable influence over Korea, but American recognition treated Korea as an independent state. As neighboring powers competed to shape Korean foreign affairs, an exchange of diplomats gave the Korean government a way to assert its authority to conduct them. [1]
Lucius Foote presented his credentials in Seoul on 20 May 1883, establishing diplomatic relations, and a Korean mission led by Min Yong-ik travelled to the United States that year. A permanent American mission in Seoul was followed in 1888 by a Korean legation in Washington. [1] [2]
Related Diplomats
Sources
- Korea — Office of the Historian
Recognition in 1882 and diplomatic relations in 1883
- Old Korean Legation Museum: diplomatic timeline
1882 treaty; 1883 missions; 1888 legation
- The King of Tah-Chosun to President Arthur and the addresses of the envoys and president
FRUS 1883, document 115, pp. 248–250; credentials dated July 14
- Mr. Foote to Mr. Frelinghuysen
FRUS 1883, document 112
Related Reading
Cite This Article
The Korea–United States Treaty of 1882. Chanceries Diplopedia. Record 241aedefa469cc6bb9d6. https://chanceries.org/research/history/korea-amity-0a6d2810fc/