Unequal treaty is the name given by the Chinese to a series of treaties signed during the 19th and early 20th centuries, between China, various Western powers, and also with Japan. The agreements, often reached after a military defeat or a threat of military invasion, contained one-sided terms, requiring China to cede land, pay reparations, open treaty ports, give up tariff autonomy, legalise opium import, and grant extraterritorial privileges to foreign citizens.
The politics of the Joseon dynasty, which ruled Korea from 1392 to 1897, were governed by the reigning ideology of Korean Confucianism, a form of Neo-Confucianism. Political struggles were common between different factions of the scholar-officials. Purges frequently resulted in leading political figures being sent into exile or condemned to death.
The Italy–Korea Treaty of 1884 was negotiated between representatives of Italy and Korea.
The Russia–Korea Treaty of 1884 was negotiated between representatives of Russia and Korea.
The United Kingdom–Korea Treaty of 1883 was negotiated between representatives of the United Kingdom and Korea.
The Austria–Korea Treaty of 1892 was negotiated between representatives of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Joseon Korea.
The Denmark–Korea Treaty of 1902 was negotiated between representatives of the Kingdom of Denmark and the Korean Empire.
The China–Korea Treaty of 1882 was an unequal treaty between the Qing dynasty and the Joseon dynasty in October 1882. This agreement has been described as the Joseon-Qing Communication and Commerce Rules; and it has been called the Sino-Korean Regulations for Maritime and Overland Trade. The treaty stipulated that Joseon is a tributary state of Qing China, thereby the subjugative influence over Joseon by the Qing dynasty was started. After 1894, Qing lost its influence over Joseon because of the First Sino-Japanese War.
