The Korean government proclaimed that they would stand outside and keep neutrality against the war between Japan and Russia on January 21, 1904 and the Korean proclamation was approved by other foreign countries, such as Qing (now China), Britain, France and Germany.
1904年（明治37年）1月21日、韓国政府は日露交戦の折には戦時局外中立をすると宣言、清をはじめイギリス、フランス、ドイツなどがこれを承認した。