AHC- French, British or Germans colonize Korea

It was possible for Britain, France, Russia and even the US to conquer Korea if the will was there, as they were all active in the region from the 1860s.

A POD after the 1890s with the rise of Japan, however, would be too late.

Germany was a late comer to the colonial race and arrived too late on the scene to be able to conquer Korea.
 
Well, France and Russia were certainly very interested in that - one of the reason why Britain allied with Japan.

For the former, I believe the appropriate POD would be around 1840s to 60s. The Russian colonization of Transamur occurred in 50s and 60s, but I don't think they had enough infrastructures or troops in areas to try something big until 70s.
 
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A less successful Meji Restoration would probably be a requirement. Have Japan fare more like Siam in OTL: Modest modernisation of civilian infrastructure and military. Some reforms, etc. But only strong enough to maintain independence rather than outright go imperialist themselves.
 
French launched an expedition to Korea in 1866, but it failed because they lacked of soldiers and artillery but with a bigger expedtion or if the french launched a second expedition, France could transform Korea in a puppet state and transform them later in a colony
 

raharris1973

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French launched an expedition to Korea in 1866, but it failed because they lacked of soldiers and artillery but with a bigger expedtion or if the french launched a second expedition, France could transform Korea in a puppet state and transform them later in a colony

I wonder if France's newfound frontiers with Russia in Asia would make it difficult for the Franco-Russian alliance to coalesce?
 

raharris1973

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I also wonder if making Korea a persistent French target would slow down the campaigns that acquired northern and central Vietnam
 
That said, any overt colonization attempt by either would invite intervention by Qing, especially if it is Russia, possibly at the request of the Korean government.
 
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