Korea NOT Annexed By Japan In 1910?

In this year,Korea was annexed by Japan 100 years ago. It has been said that this event,is what caused Korea to go downhill..and was one of the factors that ended up with the country divided between North and South. I can imagine the idea has been asked about before..at least I think so.

But after searching for a few minutes,I could not find much. The whole scope that led to Korea being annexed by Japan is similar to China,in a few ways I think..weak Dynastic base..leading to foreign influence and spread of power.

But,Korea did try to modernize itself shortly before the annexation..as far as I know..Korea started to in about the mid to late 1800's..around the same time as Japan. So why was Korea annexed? Was there something that Japan did,and Korea did not? (Meji Restoration,allying with European powers.)

Or was it some circumstance that was out of Korea's control? Let's throw out some ideas as to how Korea can either remain "independent" (Out of Japanese annexation) or Korea strong enough to rebuff attacks..but not actually attack Japan..because that would be a bit to much..or is it...what would East Asian history be like if Korea was able to remain on its own?
 
Short Story on Korea got annexed: Korea started later, suffered political division(on if they wanted Chinese, Russian, Japanese, independant, or the influence of another power), strongest leader for indepentant is killed by Japan, Japan beats both China and Russia in wars.
And the United States looked the other way.
 

yourworstnightmare

Banned
Donor
A fully independent Korea is out of the question by 1910 even if the annexation won't happen. Korea is surrounded by larger and stronger powers all seeking to increase their influence. China is the weakest of them though, and won't be a viable option in 1910. Korea could seek protection from the Russians, but that could escalate in another Russo- Japanese war and I'm not sure Russia would want to go down that road again. Last thete's Japan. Even if the annexation won't happen I think Korea would fall under the Japanese sphere of influence as some kind of puppet state in that case.
 
It has been said that this event,is what caused Korea to go downhill..and was one of the factors that ended up with the country divided between North and South.
Korea didn't go downhill because it was annexed in 1910, it was annexed in 1910 because if went downhill for a century before 1910.
Saying Korea went down afterwards is like saying the decline of the Roman Empire began with the fall of Rome to the Vandals.
If you want to save Korea your best bet is having Yi San live at least 2 decades longer and dragging the Yanban establishment kicking and screaming into reforming the nation.
 
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