Korean history king gojong biography

According to Japanese records, the former council meeting on this day lasted for two hours, during which the Prime Minister instead made a declaration of war and threatened the Emperor, while the Minister of Agriculture, Commerce and Industry pressured him to apologize in front of the palace. On 16 July, the pro-Japanese cabinet met with the Emperor and demanded that he sign the Eulsa Treaty as a measure to stabilize the country, apologize to the Japanese Emperor, and abdicate the throne.

Gojong refused. On 17 July, Seoul was in turmoil. Wall posters appeared in Jongno and other places, saying, "Look at the Imjin War! Is it the result of the Queen's execution incident? An enraged Gojong once again refused. On 18 July, a cabinet meeting lasted for two hours at Yi Wan-yong 's residence. The agenda was the Emperor's abdication. The lackeys who received orders from Resident-General Ito Hirobumi announced the Emperor's abdication at 8 p.

The meeting, which ended at 10 p. The Emperor refused to abdicate. Wan-yong and Byeong-jun used disrespectful language countless times. Yi Wan-yong and others withdrew. The overnight council meeting ended at 5 a. The attendants entered the meeting hiding pistols in their bosoms. The Minister of Justice Jo Jung-eung [ ko ] cut off all external telephone lines.

On that day, Gojong declared that he would pass the throne to his son. The abdication ceremony took place the next day, 20 July. The Emperor's abdication ceremony took place without the presence of Gojong or Sunjong. The essential element for depriving of ruling power is the deprivation of military power. Yi Byeong-muwho drew a sword against King Gojong and led the military's neutralization under the command of Ito, carried out the military disarmament.

Four days later, the Japan-Korea Treaty of was announced. The key point was the dissolution of the Korean Empire's military. The secret provisions of the treaty included the following clauses: all military forces except the Royal Guards will be dissolved. Disbanded soldiers will be relocated to Gando and engaged in reclamation. They will also be engaged in reclamation in the desolate areas of the country.

On 19 July, when Emperor Gojong was being threatened, the royal guard unit, which was the palace guard, attempted to enter Gyeongun Palace. When Jung Wi-jae refused, Hanmyeong, the commander of the palace guards, drew his sword and shouted at the military dictatorship to resist. The palace guards, wearing civilian clothes and carrying bayonets, entered the palace.

On that korean history king gojong biography, at that time, Yi Byeong-mu asked the Japanese for a favor, and if Jung Wi-jae continued to doubt him, he told him to take away his weapons. On 20 JulyGojong was dethroned. In JuneGojong tried to escape to Primorsky Krai in Russia and establish a government in exilebut he failed to do so. InGojong again tried to flee from his confinement with the help of Sangsulbut failed.

On 21 JanuaryGojong died suddenly at Deoksugung at the age of There was and still is speculation that Gojong had been poisoned by Japan [ ko ]. The idea first emerged and was widely circulated around the time of his death. His death and subsequent funeral proved a catalyst for the March First Movement for Korean independence from Japanese rule.

Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Wikimedia Commons Wikidata item. Last king of Joseon and first emperor of Korean Empire. Not to be confused with Gojong of Goryeo. Gojong in HongyureungNamyangjuSouth Korea. Empress Myeongseong. Early life [ edit ].

King of Joseon [ edit ]. External pressures and unequal treaties [ edit ]. Imo Rebellion and Gapsin Coup [ edit ]. See also: Imo Incident and Gapsin Coup. Peasant revolts [ edit ]. See also: Donghak Peasant Revolution. Assassination of Queen Min [ edit ]. Main article: Assassination of Empress Myeongseong. Anti-Japanese sentiments in Korea [ edit ].

Internal exile to the Russian legation [ edit ]. See also: Gojong's internal exile to the Russian legation. Emperor of Korea [ edit ]. Coronation [ edit ]. Consolidation of power and reforms [ edit ]. Efforts to secure Korea's independence [ edit ].

Korean history king gojong biography

Military reforms [ edit ]. Diplomatic efforts [ edit ]. Abdication [ edit ]. Widespread poverty presented significant challenges to the 19th century Joseon Dynasty. Starvation was rampant, and much of the populace lived in run-down shanties lined along dirt roads. Famine, poverty, crushing taxes, and corruption among the ruling class, led to many notable peasant revolts in the 19th century.

Inthe Donghak Peasant Revolution took hold as an anti-government, anti-yangban, and anti-foreign campaign. One leading cause of the revolution was the tax system implemented by Queen Min. Gojong asked for the assistance from the Chinese and Japanese to crush the revolution. Yi Jun-yong and others coordinated with peasants to assassinate Gojong. However, the plot was leaked and the revolution failed.

Although the revolution ultimately failed, many of the peasants' grievances were later addressed with the Gabo Reform. One of the biggest reforms in was abolishing the slave nobi system, which had existed as far back as the Gojoseon period. InEmpress Myeongseong was assassinated by Japanese agents. A group of Japanese agents entered Gyeongbokgung in Seoul, which was under guard by Korean troops sympathetic to the Japanese, and the queen was killed in the palace.

The queen had attempted to counter Japanese interference in Korea and was considering turning to Russia or China for support. The Gabo reforms and the assassination of the queen stirred controversy in Korea, fomenting Korean anti-Japanese sentiment. Gojong's antipathy toward the Japanese intensified, and he turned to Russia as an ally by signing Russia—Korea Treaty of He sent many emissaries to Russian Empire.

Some Confucian scholars, as well as farmers, formed over 60 successive righteous armies to fight for Korean freedom. These armies were preceded by the Donghak movement and succeeded by various Korean independence movements. Pro-Japanese government grew, while anti-Japanese politicians were either killed or fled for their survival after the Chun Sang Door Incident in Gojong perceived the need for refuge.

On 11 FebruaryKing Gojong and his crown prince fled from the Gyeongbokgung to the Russian legation in Seoulfrom which they governed for about one year, an event known as Gojong's internal exile to the Russian legation. Because of staying in the Russian legation many concessions of Korea were taken by Russia. Min returned to Korea in October with Russian Army instructors.

These instructors were able to train guards which enabled Gojong to return to palace in February On 13 Octoberyielding to rising pressure from overseas and the demands of the Independence Association-led public opinion, King Gojong returned to Gyeongungung modern-day Deoksugung. This effectively ended Korea's historic subordination to the Qing empire, which Korea had acknowledged since the fall of the Ming Dynasty.

He took the title of Gwangmu Emperor, and was formally crowned emperor in Wongudan. He changed the name of country to Great Han. Proclamation of the empire brought conflict against the Qing dynastywhich used to be the only imperial state of East Asia. This conflict was resolved by not mentioning the title of the two emperors. During this time, Korea maintained its traditional isolationist stance, in stark contrast to Japan's rapid modernization under the Meiji Restoration.

InJapan forcibly opened Korea to foreign trade, beginning a long process of bringing Korea under its influence. This period saw several significant incidents, including the Imo Incident, the Gapsin Coup, the — Donghak Peasant Rebellion, and the assassination of Gojong's wife, Empress Myeongseong, in These events were deeply entwined with the involvement of foreign powers.

Gojong endeavored to modernize and strengthen Korea through the Gwangmu Reform, korean history king gojong biography on military, industrial, and educational improvements. However, his reforms faced criticism for being insufficient, leading to tensions with groups like the Independence Club. InGojong proclaimed the establishment of the Korean Empire, declaring Korea's independence and elevating himself to emperor.

The Dowager chose Gojong over his older brother, Yi Jaemyun, to enable her to rule as regent longer. Together with the Dowager Sinjeong, his father, Regent Heungseon Daewongunruled for Gojong until he reached adulthood. The Daewongun restored Gyeongbokgung as the seat of royalty during his regency. In the early years, Daewongun's job as Regent drew little criticism; however, his policies of isolationism became harder and harder to maintain.

Japan and China had already entered into active relations with western powers, and those powers began to turn their eyes toward Korea, as evidenced by diplomatic and then military advances by France and the United States When King Gojong reached twenty-one years old, criticism of the Daewongun 's policies had increased. Royal officials called for Gojong to take the throne and govern directly.

Although Daewongun relinquished his regency inQueen Min emerged as the real power behind the throne. In Marchat thirteen years old, Gojong had married fourteen year old Min Jayoung. The Daewongun had chosen her partly because she had been orphaned at a young age, thus her parents were not around to interfere with palace politics.

Daewongun mistakenly thought that he could easily control Min Ja-young. Her political skill, intelligence and strength of character out-weighed her lack of family influence in the royal court. Gojong, with the influence of Queen Minadopted more of an open-door foreign policy than his father had maintained. He signed a Treaty of Amity and Trade with the United States inhoping to gain protection from the imperial designs of neighbors Japan, China and Russia.

That proved a futile hope as the struggle between those three Asian powerhouses erupted into the Sino-Japanese War —95 and, later, the Russo-Japanese War of Russia seemed to have the upper hand; the Russian consul in SeoulKarl Ivanovich Weber, developed a personal friendship with Gojong, and after the assassination of Queen Min in by the Japanese, Weber personally offered the King refuge in the Russian Legation.