The proclamation of allegiance to Japanese imperial rule by King Fang Hyung of Joseon sent shockwaves throughout the nation. At first, the people erupted in defiance, convinced that the king's declaration had been coerced through threats. How could any Joseon citizen remain silent in the face of their monarch's humiliation? i i
But as time went on, the king's actions revealed a more troubling reality. His compliance seemed less like submission under duress and more like a wholehearted surrender.
Day after day, newspapers carried images of King Fang Hyung paying respects to Japanese soldiers fallen in the Russo-Japanese War. Smiling alongside Ito Hirobumi at public ceremonies, the king sowed confusion and dismay among his subjects. While some still clung to the belief that the king acted under coercion, those closest to the throne knew the truth.