ATreaty of Peace, Amity, Commerce and Navigation[2] (Korean:조·미수호통상조약,Hanja: 朝美修好通商條約), also known as theShufeldt Treaty, was negotiated between representatives of theUnited States andKorea in 1882.[3][4]
The treaty was written in English and Hanja,[5] with the final draft being accepted at Chemulpo (present dayIncheon) near the Korean capital ofHanseong (nowSeoul) in April and May 1884.[6] It was Korea's first treaty with awestern nation.[7] After the United States assented to theTaft–Katsura agreement, the intervention clause was effectively nullified.
In 1876, Korea established a trade treaty with Japan after Japanese ships approachedGanghwado and, following theGanghwa Island incident, threatened to open fire on the Korean capital city. Treaty negotiations with the U.S. and with several European countries were made possible by the completion of this initial Japanese overture.[8]
Negotiations withQing were a significant feature of the process which resulted in this treaty.[9] The Chinese played a significant role in the treaty negotiation, although Korea was an independent country at the time, which was explicitly mentioned in the treaty.[7]
The United States and Korea negotiated and approved a 14 article treaty. The treaty established mutual friendship and mutual assistance in case of attack; and the treaty also addressed such specific matters as extraterritorial rights for U.S. citizens in Korea and most favored nation trade status.[2][10]
There shall be perpetual peace and friendship between the President of the United States and the King of Joseon and the citizens and subjects of their respective Governments. If other powers deal unjustly or oppressively with either Government, the other will exert their good offices on being informed of the case to bring about an amicable arrangement, thus showing their friendly feelings.[10]
Article 2 ... exchange of diplomatic and consular representatives[10]
Article 3 ... United States vessels wrecked on coast of Korea[10]
Joseon senta diplomatic mission to the U.S. in 1883, marking the first ever such official visit to North America by Koreans.[11] The U.S. treaty established a template which was explicitly modeled in treaties with European nations — Germany in 1883, Russia and Italy in 1884, France in 1886, and others as well.[12]
^Korean Mission to the Conference on the Limitation of Armament, Washington, D.C., 1921-1922. (1922).Korea's Appeal to the Conference on Limitation of Armament, p. 17., p. 17, atGoogle Books; excerpt, "It is certain that in 1882 the United States recognized the independence and territorial integrity of Korea by entering intoa treaty of amity and commerce with her as a separate national entity. The treaty was in due form. It was ratified by the Senate and in regular course it was formally "proclaimed" by President Arthur. Japan was the first nation to officially "congratulate" both Korea and the United States upon its consummation. This fact is noted in the report of Hon. John A. Bingham to Secretary Frelinghuysen, April 14, 1883.As though to emphasize the international effect of this treaty in recognizing this national entity, China protested the sending of Korean ministers to the United States, claiming suzerainty over Korea. The protest was patiently and fully considered on its merits and was overruled. Later China, conceding the position of the United States, also recognized, by specific treaty the independence and separate entity of Korea. Great Britain, France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, Belgium, Denmark, and Italy, following the course of the United States,also made treaties of amity and commerce with Korea as a separate nation." [italics + bold added for emphasis]
^Yŏng-ho Ch'oeet al. (2000).Sources of Korean Tradition, p. 235, p. 235, atGoogle Books; excerpt, "Korea signed a similar accord with the United States (theTreaty of Chelump'o, 1882) that was followed by similar agreements with other Western nations."
^abOffice of the Historian, Foreign Service Institute."Korea".A Guide to the United States’ History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776. United States Department of State. RetrievedJuly 14, 2020.The United States and the Kingdom of Choson (Korea) engaged in their first official diplomatic interaction on May 22, 1882, when representatives of the two states signed a treaty of amity and commerce at Chemulpo, Korea. The treaty had been negotiated with the assistance of Chinese officials, since China had for many years had influence in Korea's foreign affairs due to a historical tributary relationship between the two countries. In fact, Korea was an independent state and this fact was acknowledged in the treaty. It was the first treaty Korea signed with a Western nation.
^abcdefghijklmKorean Mission,p. 29., p. 29, atGoogle Books; excerpt, "Treaty and Diplomatic Relations Between the United States and Korea. Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation dated May 22, 1882."
^Korean Missionp. 36., p. 36, atGoogle Books; excerpt, "Official rescript issued by Japan, November 22, 1905, declares: 'In bringing this agreement to the notice of the powers having treaties with Korea, the Imperial Government declares that * * * they will see that these treaties are maintained and respected, and they also engage not to prejudice In any way the legitimate commercial and industrial interests of those powers in Korea'".
Kang, Woong Joe. (2005).The Korean Struggle for International Identity in the Foreground of the Shufeldt Negotiation, 1866-1882. Lanham, Maryland: University Press of America.ISBN9780761831204;OCLC62241660
Kang, Jae-un. (2006).The Land of Scholars: Two Thousand Years of Korean Confucianism. Paramus, New Jersey: Homa & Sekey Books.ISBN9781931907309;OCLC60931394
Korean Mission to the Conference on the Limitation of Armament, Washington, D.C., 1921-1922. (1922).Korea's Appeal to the Conference on Limitation of Armament. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office.OCLC12923609
Pletcher, David M. (2001).The Diplomacy of Involvement: American Economic Expansion Across the Pacific, 1784-1900. Columbia: University of Missouri Press.ISBN9780826213150;OCLC45829081
Arrighi, Giovanni; Hamashita, Takeshi and Selden, Mark. (2003).The Resurgence of East Asia: 500, 150 and 50 year Perspectives. London" Routledge.ISBN9780415316361;OCLC51020404
