Since the Old Korean Legation opened in 1889, it had served as the main stage for the active diplomatic endeavors of Korean diplomats for 16 years. This ended when Japan deprived the Korean Empire of its diplomatic sovereignty through the Japan-Korean Treaty of 1905, also known as Eulsa Treaty. After the Korea-Japan Annexation treaty of 1910, the building was eventually purchased for a mere $5 by the Japanese government and immediately resold. 102 years later, the Korean government repurchased the building in 2012; restored it to its original 19th century beauty; and opened it to the public as the Old Korean Legation Museum last year.