 After the annexation of Korea by the Empire of Japan in 1905, the Imperial Japanese Navy built extensive port facilities, transforming the small town into a major naval port.The port was upgraded to a Guard District on April 1, 1916; however, after the Russo-Japanese War it lost most of its strategic importance and was regarded as somewhat of a backwater assignment.On the surrender of Japan, Chinkai was occupied by Destroyer Squadron 64 from the United States Navy led by the USS "Harry E. Hubbard" (DD-748).