Records show annexation treaty invalid

Historical documents showed that the treaty that put Korea under Japan’s colonial rule 100 years ago was invalid under international law as the Korean king didn’t use the state seal to proclaim it.

The original copy of the Korean proclamation of the annexation treaty on Aug. 29, 1910, contained only King Sunjong’s privy seal, which was used solely for administrative approvals, and didn’t have the state seal of Korea.

The Japanese edict of the same treaty, however, was stamped with the state seal and had the signature of Emperor Meiji, who signed it with his personal name, Mutsuhito, according to the document.

This discrepancy challenges the Japanese assertion that the annexation took effect legally with the approval of King Sunjong.