Systems of the Republic of Korea-Japan Relations: Focus on the Structures of the 1910 and 1965 System

This study analyzes the semantic structure of the 1910 system surrounding the Treaty of Annexation of Korea and the 1965 system established by the Republic of Korea-Japan Basic Treaty. First, the Korean Empire was subjected to Japan's coercive treaty system and the agreements between Japan and other empires, resulting in the loss of its sovereignty in 1910. The Versailles system, established in 1919, supported the 1910 system by recognizing the colonies already held by the empires. Second, the 1965 system was based on the UN system, which internationally recognized the sovereignty of the Republic of Korea, and the San Francisco system, which restored Japan's sovereignty. While the latter system influenced the Japan-Korea discussions on claims, the Resolution 195(III) of the ROKJapan Basic Treaty, as stipulated in the UN system, confirmed the legitimacy of Korea as the sole legal government on the Korean Peninsula. Third, regarding the timing of the ‘already null and void’ clause in Article 2 of the ROK-Japan Basic Treaty, the 1965 system did not completely negate the treaty system that had been taken for granted under the 1910 system, nor did it fully accept it. The 1965 system rejected the ideology of the 1910 system. Fourth, under the 1910 system, Japan viewed Korea as an object of its sphere of interest, protection, annexation, and defense line. Under the 1965 system, Republic of Korea and Japan formed an ‘anti communism - defense against communism’ system.