116 years ago today, on July 19, 1909 (June 3, 1909 in the lunar calendar), Emperor Gaozong of Korea was forced to abdicate by Japan. In 1895, after Japan defeated the Qing Dynasty, it began to gradually dominate Korea. After winning the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, Japan sent tens of thousands of troops into Seoul, surrounded the palace, and forced Korea to sign the Japan-Korea Protection Treaty, which stipulated that the Japanese government would set up a supervision office in Seoul, depriving Korea of its domestic and foreign sovereignty. Shortly after the signing of the treaty, Gaozong Li Xi secretly wrote to the heads of state of the United States, Russia, Germany, and France, declaring that the Japan-Korea Protection Treaty was invalid. In 1907, at the Peace Conference of Nations held in The Hague, the Netherlands, Kojong sent special envoys Li Jun and Li Weizhong to The Hague with a letter to the Russian Tsar and a letter of appointment to attend the conference, accusing Japan of aggression against Korea and calling for solidarity from all countries. However, the participating powers all recognized Japan's right to protect Korea, and Li Jun committed suicide by disemboweling. This incident angered Japan, and Hirobun Ito, the Japanese supervisor in Korea, instigated the Korean traitor to launch a campaign to force Kojong Li Xi to abdicate. On July 17, 1907, Li Wan Yong and other seven ministers forced Kojong to abdicate. Finally, Kojong announced that "the regency of the crown prince shall rule over the affairs of the military state." However, the Japanese government tampered with the edict and said that the "regency" was "abdication." On July 19, 1907, under the strict supervision of the Japanese army, the Korean Lee Dynasty held a Zen ceremony in the palace. Crown Prince Li Tuo was ascended to the throne, and Gaozong was revered as the "Supreme Emperor". Four days after Li Tuo's ascension, Japanese Foreign Minister Lim Dong and Korean Prime Minister Li Wan disbanded the Korean army, retaining only one brigade as the palace guard. Li Tuo became a puppet in the hands of the Japanese. On October 26, 1909, Hirobun Ito was assassinated by the Korean patriot An Chonggen at Harbin Station in China. The Japanese government took the opportunity to incite revenge and create public opinion for the annexation of Korea. In August 1910, Japan forced Korea to sign the "Japan-Korea Merger Treaty", which officially became a Japanese colony. In 1926, Li Tuo died of illness at the age of 52, ending his tragic life.