Korean Empire

Empire of Korea 대한제국 (Korean) 大韓帝國 Daehan Jeguk (RR) Taehan Cheguk (MR)
1897–1910
Flag Imperial Seal
Motto: 광명천지 光明天地 "Illuminate Heaven and Earth"
Anthem: 대한제국 애국가 大韓帝國愛國歌 "Patriotic Hymn of the Great Korean Empire" (1902–1910)
National seal: 大韓國璽 Emblem:
Territory of the Korean Empire 1903–1905. The disputed Gando and Samjiyon regions are shaded in lighter green.
Status	Sovereign state (1897–1905) Protectorate of Japan (1905–1910)
Capital	Hanseong (present-day Seoul)
Common languages	Korean
Religion	Confucianism Buddhism Shamanism Taoism Christianity Cheondoism (recognized in 1907)
Demonym(s)	Korean
Government	Unitary absolute monarchy
Emperor
• 1897–1907	Gojong
• 1907–1910	Sunjong
Resident-General
• 1905–1909	Itō Hirobumi (first)
• 1909–1910	Terauchi Masatake (last)
Prime Minister[a]
• 1894–1895 (first)	Kim Hong-jip
• 1907–1910 (last)	Yi Wan-yong
Legislature	Jungchuwon [ko] (until 1907) None (rule by decree) (from 1907)
Historical era	New Imperialism
• Empire proclaimed	13 October 1897
• Constitution adopted [ko]	17 August 1899
• Eulsa Treaty	17 November 1905
• Hague Secret Emissary Affair	July 1907
• Annexed by Japan	29 August 1910
Population
• 1900[1]	17,082,000
Currency	Yang (1897–1900) Won (1900–1910)
Preceded by Succeeded by Joseon Chōsen Empire of Japan
Today part of	North Korea South Korea

Part of a series on the
History of Korea
Prehistoric period Palaeolithic 700,000 BC-8000 BC Neolithic 8000 BC–1500 BC * Jeulmun Bronze Age 1500 BC–300 BC * Mumun * Liaoning dagger
Ancient period Gojoseon 2333 BC–108 BC * Dangun * Gija * Wiman Jin 4th–2nd century BC Yemaek
Proto–Three Kingdoms period Takri Dongye Buyeo Eastern Galsa Okjeo Samhan Ma Byeon Jin Goguryeo Tamna Nakrang Four Commanderies of Han
Three Kingdoms period Goguryeo 37 BC–668 AD Baekje 18 BC–660 AD Silla 57 BC–935 AD Gaya confederacy 42–562 Tamna (Tributary of Baekje) 498–660 Usan 512–930
Northern and Southern period United Silla (Unified Silla) 668–892 Balhae 698–926 Little Goguryeo 699–820 Tamna (Tributary of Silla) 662–925
Later Three Kingdoms period Later Baekje 892–936 Taebong (Later Goguryeo) 901–918 Unified Silla (Later Silla) 892–935 Later Sabeol 919–927 Dongdan Kingdom 926–936 Later Balhae 927–935 Jeongan 938–986
Dynastic period Goryeo 918–1392 Tamna (Vassal of Goryeo) 938–1105 Heungyo 1029–1030 Joseon 1392–1897 Korean Empire 1897–1910
Colonial period Japanese occupation 1910–1945 Provisional Government 1919–1948
Modern period Military governments 1945–1948 North-South division 1945–present * North 1948–present * South 1948–present
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The Korean Empire,^[b] officially the Empire of Korea or Imperial Korea,^[2] was a Korean monarchical state proclaimed in October 1897 by King Gojong of the Joseon dynasty. The “empire” lasted until Japan's annexation of Korea in August 1910.

During this period, Emperor Gojong oversaw the Gwangmu Reform, a partial modernization and westernization of Korea's military, economy, land system, education system, and various industries. In 1905, the Korean Empire became a protectorate of the Empire of Japan. After the Japanese annexation in 1910, the Korean Empire ceased to exist.

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