History of Mokpo

Japanese started to purchase farmlands close to Mokpo, which had been illegal to the treaty between two empires, mentioning that foreigners could only deal with business activity in registered spot. The reason why the aliens were aiming at buying the fields is said owing to the lax taxation of Joseon and completely cheap price, one tenth rate for those in Japan. The forceful open speed up the despoil of harvest for cheaper price toward Japan. In the meantime, the price of rice in Jeolla province doubled afterwards.

After the year of 1905, the residence of Japanese people expanded so abundant that the location was further enlarged to Geumhwa dong where lots of cherry blossoms were grown along the street. Japanese called it Sakuramachi meaning "the downtown along cherry blossom trees" in Japanese language.

Upon Korea's annexation by Japan in 1910, the city was given a new name, "Mokpo-bu," with the construction of colonial institution called Oriental Development Company and received its current name, "Mokpo City", a year after the