out the nineteenth century, China and Japan became increasingly receptive to the influences of the Western world. During that time, Korea remained opposed to outside influences and thus came to be known as the "Hermit Kingdom." In the late nineteenth century, however, Western powers, such as the United States, Britain, Russia, Germany and France, became interested in the economic potential of doing business with Korea, and the nation became a "battleground of foreign power conflicts" (Kim 9). In 1882, Korean leaders finally agreed to trade relations with various Western powers, although it has been noted that the Koreans did so only because they felt they were "under pressure" (241). This action paved the way for increasing Western influences in Korea. However, those influences were to be short lived, as Japan occupied the nation of Korea in the year 1910. This occupation continued until the end of World War Two. Then, in 1945, Korea was split into two parts as the Soviet Union took control in the north and the United States took control in the sou
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