Ito Hirobumi, Architect of "Modern Japan, including Japan's Aggression against Korea
The year 2010 is the centennial of Japan's forced annexation of Korea. As such, there is heightened interest in Ito Hirobumi [伊藤博文], who laid down the basis for the annexation. In Korea, Ito Hirobumi is remembered as the chief instigator of Japan's aggression against Korea who was assassinated by Ahn Jung-geun. Ito had coerced the conclusion of the Eulsa Treaty (Second Japan-Korea Convention or Japan-Korea Protectorate Treaty) in 1905, forcing Korea to hand over the control over its foreign affairs to Japan. After the Hague incident in 1907, he forced Korea to sign the Korea-Japan Treaty of 1907 (Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty) and deposed King Gojong. In Japan, on the other hand, there is but an obscure awareness of him.
Bang Gwang-seok Professor, Sungyunkwan University