The purpose of this paper is to analyze, in a historical perspective, the cholera epidemics in the late Chosŏn dynasty (1821-1910). Firstly, it aims at making clear the relationship between cholera epidemics and social changes in the era. In other words, this study intends to show how social changes influenced the incidence the Chosŏn society. Secondly, this study shows what remedies were made against cholera epidemics. Traditional controls on cholera epidemics and their limits are reviewed and then the implementing process of the Western anti-epidemic methods including environmental sanitation and quarantine are analyzed. Lastly, it reveals that the Western methods were used not only to control cholera epidemics but also as the means of oppressing the Korean people by Japanese imperialists in accordance with colonization of Korea.