| Masanhappo-gu | |
| Native Name Lang: | ko |
| Settlement Type: | Non-autonomous District |
| Translit Lang1: | Korean |
| Translit Lang1 Type1: | Hangul |
| Translit Lang1 Info1: | 마산합포구 |
| Translit Lang1 Type2: | Hanja |
| Translit Lang1 Info2: | 馬山合浦區 |
| Translit Lang1 Info3: | Masanhappo-gu |
| Translit Lang1 Info4: | Masanhapp'o-gu |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | South Korea |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Yeongnam |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Name2: | South Gyeongsang |
| Subdivision Type3: | City |
| Subdivision Name3: | Changwon |
| Parts Type: | Administrative divisions |
| Parts: | 4 myeon, 15 dong |
| Area Total Km2: | 239.93 |
| Population As Of: | 2010 |
| Population Total: | 184000 |
| Population Density Km2: | 766.89 |
| Population Blank1 Title: | Dialect |
| Population Blank1: | Gyeongsang |
| Website: | masanhp.go.kr |
Masanhappo-gu (Korean: 마산합포구; Hanja: 馬山合浦區; Masanhappo District), formerly known as Happo, is a district in the City of Changwon, South Korea.
In the late 19th century, the town was considered "one of the finest harbours in east Asia, though still only a fishing-village."[1]
In October 1898, the Japanese, who were aiming at the control of Korea and were planning to build a railroad with its starting point at nearby Busan, began buying up land in the town; Colonel Tamura Iyozo, who was centrally involved, said the following June that "if Russia gets her hands on Masampo, Japan must become useless."[2] In May 1899 the town became a treaty port,[3] and the Russian navy tried to buy land for its use, only to discover that the Japanese had already acquired some of the parcels they needed. The following November, there was an ugly confrontation between Russian and Japanese seamen, and by February 1900 there was a rumor that the Russians were demanding a lease of land for military-naval use: "A large Russian squadron including the battleships Rossiya, Donskoi, and Rurik sailed from Port Arthur and weighed anchor at Masampo threateningly."[2] The Japanese cabinet insisted that Russia not acquire any site that commanded the harbors of Koje Island, and Japan placed its fleet on a war footing. The tension was lessened by a secret agreement between Russia and Japan later that year, and the war scare was finally ended with the coming of the Boxer disturbances in June.[4]