ABSTRACT Illustrating overlooked aspects of a hegemonic conflict surrounding the Korean peninsula amidst changing geopolitical dynamics in the Far East before the Russo-Japanese war, this analysis provides an alternate reading of international history during the age of ‘New Imperialism’. With Korea’s railroad system enmeshed with Russo-Japanese rivalry in Northeast Asia, a technologically inferior Korea could only resort to concession diplomacy and, relatedly, neutralisation – also attempted by Russia – to preserve its fragile independence. Despite the high hopes that accompanied them, such efforts were unable to protect Korea and its railroads from Japanese control as the clouds of the Russo-Japanese War overshadowed the region.

中文翻译：

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重温 1904 年前东亚的日俄霸权竞争：韩国铁路

摘要 日俄战争前，在远东地区地缘政治动态不断变化的情况下，围绕朝鲜半岛的霸权冲突被忽视的方面，这一分析提供了对“新帝国主义”时代国际历史的另一种解读。由于韩国的铁路系统与日俄在东北亚的竞争纠缠不清，技术落后的韩国只能诉诸让步外交，以及相关的中立化——俄罗斯也尝试过——以保持其脆弱的独立性。尽管伴随着他们寄予厚望，但由于日俄战争的阴云笼罩着该地区，这些努力无法保护朝鲜及其铁路免受日本的控制。