舊韓末 美國의 雲山金鑛採堀權 獲得에 對하여

Abstract

This is a case study on a foreign mining concession. The mining concessions were an important part of the struggles among foreign powers in the la-be Yi Dynasty. I especially deal with the Unsan gold mine operated by the Amercians. After the opening of Korea, foreign powers paid attention to Korean mines as a link to their economic penetration and frequently made surveys searching for mines. Like other countries America was greatly interested in discovering prospective mines through diplomats and tradesmen. The United States of America kept careful contact with the modern mining development policies of the Korean government in the l880s. America made a good impression on the Korean government, and so easily got a mining concession. The Korean government resisted the demands of the other foreign powers for the development of Korean mines and almost entirely depended on the United States of America. In 1887 the Korean Royal court tried to increase the American's interest by giving her the the gold mining concession at Unsan for a security of two million dollars through the work of H. N. Allen, an American missionary and diplomat. But contrary 'bo Korea's expectations the United States of America was indifferent to the political affairs of Korea and only 'tried to get economic rights. After the Sino-Japanese War the United States of America didn't take part in the triple intervention against Japanese but rather sought for better relations with Russia. Allen in the meantime was very active in getting a concession and finally the Korean government gave James R. Morse, an American, the gold mining concession at Unsan in 1895. It was the first case for Korea to give a foreigner a mining concession. With the conclusion of that contract the other foreign powers claimed for equal opportunity by the most favourd nation clause. America didn't care about the situation in Korea and helped the other foreign powers to get the mining concession which aided her own interests, As a result of that the foreign powers took the lead in developing Korean mines. James R. Morse sold his administration right to Leigh Hunt and J. S. Fassett after one year of mining. The Unsan gold mine was managed by the Oriental Consolidated Mining Co. organized by Hunt ＆ Fassett and passed over to Japan in 1939, Before this, the company was left to only American management. During their management of the Unsan gold mine the Americans were willing to exercise their sovereignty as well as gold mining concossions. And the Unsan gold mine looked like an American settlement. Naturally many social problems between Americans and Koreans occurred. The Unsan gold mine was popularly referred to as a "Bonanza" (or "No touch mine" in Korean) with full reserves for the U. S. A. and in the 42 years from 1896 to 1939 that country made a net profit of 15 million dollars from the mine. America increased her profits by obtaining the lumbering rights all over Unsan in 1909. Korea incurred a great financial loss draining much of her natural and capital resources.