Korean Independence through Maps
The Map shows Korea under the Chinese Empire in early 1894, before the start of the Sino-Japanese war between China and Japan for control of Korea that same year.
Japan attacks China in Korea and wins the Sino-Japanese war in 1895 leading to the Treaty of Shimonoseki, which specifically involved the Qing Empire announcing that Korean was independent of the Chinese Empire. Korea then proclaimed itself and independent state under the name the Korean Empire, which remained the case until 1904 and was recognised by Japan, China, Russia, Britain and America.
Japan quickly took over Korea in early 1904. Korea sued for Peace leading to the eventual establishment of Korea as a Japanese protectorate, with certain assurances of future independence and a fixed territory after the war was finished. (1)