Joseon–United States Treaty of 1882

In 1876, Korea established a trade treaty with Japan after Japanese ships approached Ganghwado and, following the Ganghwa 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. Negotiations with Qing were a significant feature of the process which resulted in this treaty. 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. ==Treaty provisions==

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. Abstract The treaty encompasses a range of subjects. • Article 1 provides: • Article 2 ... exchange of diplomatic and consular representatives • Article 3 ... United States vessels wrecked on coast of Korea • Article 4 ... United States extraterritorial jurisdiction over its citizens in Korea • Article 5 ... merchants and merchant vessels shall reciprocally pay duties • Article 6 ... reciprocal rights of residence and protection of citizens of both nations • Article 7 ... prohibiting export or import of opium • Article 8 ... export of "breadstuffs" and red ginseng • Article 9 ... regulating importation of arms and ammunition • Article 10 .. reciprocal rights to employing native labor • Article 11 .. students exchanges • Article 12 .. further negotiation of provisions after 5 years • Article 13 .. use of Classical Chinese as official correspondence language • Article 14 .. the usual most-favored-nation clause The treaty remained in effect until the Treaty of Portsmouth in 1905. ==Aftermath==

Joseon sent a diplomatic mission to the U.S. in 1883, marking the first ever such official visit to North America by Koreans. 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. The treaty remained in effect even until the U.S. recognized 'Article 2' in the Treaty of Portsmouth of 1905, which eventually cleared the way for Japan's takeover of Korea in 1910. ==See also==