Russo-U.S. Joint Investment and International Relations during the Taehan Empire: 1898-1900

Journal Title: International Journal of Korean History - Year 2009, Vol 13, Issue 1

Abstract

During the Taehan Empire, the Department of the Royal Household (Kungnaebu) was the entity in charge of the country’s main mines. While the Unsan Mine was the first mine to fall under the control of the Department of the Royal Household in May 1895, the number of mines under its auspices increased exponentially after the king’s flight to the Russian Legation in 1896 (Agwan p'ach'ŏn). On June 23, 1898 alone, the Department of Agriculture and Commerce officially transferred some forty-three potentially high-yield mines to the Department of the Royal Household.1 Having seized the reins of power in the aftermath of the flight of the king to the Russian Legation in 1896, the royal family undertook this transfer as part of its efforts to increase the financial resources of the royal household. The royal household’s management of these mines revolved around allowing private citizens of Chosŏn to develop these structures and providing mining concessions to foreign nationalities. In exchange, the government levied mining taxes on domestic mine owners and shared in the profits earned by the foreign concessions.

Authors and Affiliations

Joonhwa Hong

Keywords

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  • EP ID EP26346
  • DOI -
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How To Cite

Joonhwa Hong (2009). Russo-U.S. Joint Investment and International Relations during the Taehan Empire: 1898-1900. International Journal of Korean History, 13(1), -. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-26346