Ruthers Ford's Role In Early U.S.-North Korea Relations

“The Treaty of Amity and Commerce between America and Korea” was signed in1882 and entered into force in the following year which means the diplomatic relations between the United States and Korea was officially established.The United States government established a legation in Korea in 1883 under the treaty and Lucicus Harwood Foote was appointed as the first United States minister plenipotentiary.When Foote was sent to Korea,he actively maintained and expanded the commercial interests of the United States in Korea who also became an important window to the outside world for Korea.Foote drove the process when Korea was sending a mission to the United States.The mission’s tour of the U.S.achievements since the industrial revolution has expanded the U.S.influence inside Korea.When Gapsin Coup happened,Foote as the United States minister to Korea,was actively mediating among Korea,China and Japan who has played an important role for easing international conflicts after Gapsin Coup.Through making the most out of diplomatic archives of the United States and Korea and the related documents of this period,this paper,in multi-dimensions and omni-directional,traced Foote’s activities in Korea and his role at the beginning of diplomatic relations between the United States and Korea by referring to the research results of foreign scholars and using the method of historical data analysis and historical theory.