FUN WITH MAPS ISSUE 2026-111

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (June 30, 2026) – This edition of FWM visits independence with a fight for freedom in Asia.

INDEPENDENCE – Not really

Does independence of a nation from another mean real independence?  Not always, as Korea has learned.

Following the Japanese victory over China’s Qing Dynasty in the Sino-Japanese war, Japan forced China to relinquish its tributary relationship with Korea, as signed in a treaty on June 30, 1895.

However, that left Korea open to other foreign influences, and Japan gladly started to increase its influence.  This culminated in annexing Korea and forming a Japanese colonial state in 1910.  Although a Korean government did form in exile in China in 1919, Japan controlled Korea until the end of World War II.

This is not the end of the story, as we know.  Korea was divided into two parts along the 38th parallel – North and South — in 1948.  Then came the Korean War (1950-53) which further drove the division of the two Koreas.

China, Japan and Korea are shown in this 1831 map by Teesdale.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps. Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.