Occupation of Seoul

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Occupation of Seoul
Part of Donghak Peasant Revolution and the First Sino-Japanese War
16126.d.2(92)-News from Korea- an account of a skirmish -involving Minister Ōtori-.jpg
Ōtori Keisuke escorts Daewongun to the royal palace as Ōshima Yoshimasa engages the palace garrisons
Date23 July 1894
Location
Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul, Korea
Result

Japanese victory

Belligerents

 Empire of Japan

Enlightenment Party

Kingdom of Joseon

Commanders and leaders
Ōtori Keisuke
Ōshima Yoshimasa
Heungseon Daewongun
Kim Hong-jip		 Gojong
Myeongseong
Strength
IJA 9th Infantry Brigade (Oshima Composite Brigade): 8,000
Kim Hong-jip's forces		 Chingunyeong (Capital Guards Command)
Wanggung Sumunjang (Royal Gate Keepers)
Geumgun (Restriction Guard)
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown

The Occupation of Seoul or the Occupation of Gyeongbokgung Palace occurred on July 23, 1894, during the ceasefire of the Donghak Peasant Revolution and the beginning of the Sino-Japanese War. Imperial Japanese forces led by Japanese Minister Plenipotentiary to Korea Ōtori Keisuke, and Ōshima Yoshimasa occupied Gyeongbokgung palace. To restore King Gojong's father Heungseon Daewongun and establish a pro-Japanese government under Kim Hong-jip and the Enlightenment Party's administration.

Foreign Intervention[]

On June 1, 1894, rumors reached the Donghaks that the Chinese and Japanese were on the verge of sending troops, and so the rebels agreed to a ceasefire with the Joseon government to remove any grounds for foreign intervention.[1] On June 2, the Japanese cabinet decided to send troops to Korea if China did the same. In May, the Chinese took steps to prepare for mobilization of their forces in the provinces of Zhili, Shandong, and in Manchuria.[2] However, those actions were planned more as an armed demonstration to strengthen the Chinese position in Korea than as preparation for war against Japan.[2] On June 3, King Gojong, on the recommendation of the Min clan and at the insistence of Yuan Shikai, requested aid from the Chinese government in suppressing the Donghak Rebellion. Although the rebellion was not as serious as it had initially seemed and so the Chinese forces were not necessary, the Qing government decided to send 2,500 men under the command of General Ye Zhichao to the harbor of Asan, about 70 km (43 mi) from Seoul. The troops destined for Korea sailed onboard three British-owned steamers chartered by the Chinese government, arriving at Asan on June 9. On June 25, an additional 400 troops had arrived. Consequently, Ye Zhichao had about 2,800-2,900 soldiers under his command at Asan by the end of June. [2][3]

Closely watching the events on the peninsula, the Japanese government had quickly become convinced that the rebellion would lead to Chinese intervention in Korea. As a result, soon after learning of the Korean government's request for Chinese military help, all Japanese warships in the vicinity were immediately ordered to Pusan and Chemulpo.[2] By June 9, Japanese warships had consecutively called at Chemulpo and Pusan.[4] A formation of 420 sailors, selected from the crews of warships anchored in Chempulo, was immediately dispatched to Seoul, where they served as a temporary counterbalance to the Chinese troops camped at Asan.[5] Simultaneously, a reinforced brigade of approximately 8,000 soldiers of the IJA 9th Infantry Brigade, also known as the Oshima Composite Brigade, under the command of General Ōshima Yoshimasa, was also dispatched to Chemulpo by June 27 and then to Yongsan.[6][7]

According to the Japanese, the Chinese government had violated the Convention of Tientsin by not informing the Japanese government of sending troops. Still, the Chinese claimed that Japan had approved the decision.[8] The Japanese countered by sending an expeditionary force to Korea. The first 400 troops arrived on June 9 en route to Seoul, and 3,000 landed at Incheon on June 12.[9] However, Japanese officials denied any intention to intervene. As a result, the Qing viceroy Li Hongzhang "was lured into believing that Japan would not wage war, but the Japanese prepared to act."[attribution needed][10] The Qing government turned down Japan's suggestion for Japan and China to co-operate to reform the Korean government. Japanese Minister Plenipotentiary to Korea Ōtori Keisuke requested Gojong establish an electric cable between Hanseong and Busan for military use and a barracks to house their troops. They also demanded the withdrawal of Qing troops and cancel China-Korea Treaty of 1882, and other trade agreements concluded between them. The Joseon government rejected their requests and demanded Japan and the Qing to withdraw their troops proclaiming they would push for reforms without them. They established the Gyojeongcheong or the Board of Review and Rectification to carry out their program of reforms.[7]

Storming the Gyeongbokgung Palace[]

Japanese troops storm the palace capturing King Gojong (bottom left) while the rest of their army engages the Qing at Seonghwan, Korea.

On 23 July, the Japanese approached Heungseon Daewongun, who was under house arrest Gojong had placed him as someone amenable to be Korea's leader in growing their sphere of influence on Joseon. He agreed on the condition that "Japan will not demand a single piece of Korean territory if the reforms succeed," and so the Japanese liberated him.[11] Kim Hong-jip and the Enlightenment Party also joined their assault after the failed Gapsin Coup; he requested their military assistance to topple the government-administered by the conservative faction of Confucius scholars backed by the Qing government who opposed modernization.[12][13] Ōtori ordered Ōshima to march to Hanseong and surround the Gyeongbokgung palace. At 4:30 am, Ōshima Yoshimasa and the 8,000 Japanese troops assaulted the palace.[7] The army engaged in a firefight with the modernized guard unit the Chingunyeong (Capital Guards Command).[citation needed] Then the Japanese broke through the palace gates, engaged the interior defenses like the Wanggung Sumunjang (the Royal Gate Keepers), and the Geumgun (Restriction Guard) capturing the armory to support Kim Hong-jip and his forces in securing the palace.[citation needed] After hours of fighting, the Japanese occupied the palace, disarmed the guards, and captured King Gojong. Daewongun entered the palace under guard.[7]

Aftermath[]

On July 25, King Gojong summoned Minister Ōtori to the court to announce his surrender of political control to his father while acting in consultation with him. Daewongun and the Japanese replaced the existing Korean government with a pro-Japanese government administered by the Enlightenment Party with Kim Hong-jip as prime minister to begin the Gabo Reform, expel Qing forces, and request Japan to dispatch more troops to Korea.[14] Even though Qing forces were already leaving Korea after they found themselves unneeded there, the Qing Government rejected the new Korean government as illegitimate. Because the Qing Government did not inform the Japanese Government of the King's request for aid, the Japanese started preparations to expel the Qing forces at Asan, leading to the Battle of Seonghwan of the First Sino-Japanese War which they won.[15] Japan won the war, and China signed the Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895. The treaty forced the Qing to recognize "the complete independence and autonomy of Korea," thus ending Korea's tributary relationship with the Chinese Qing Dynasty and achieving its independence in 1895.

The Japanese, however, became nervous after placing the Daewongun in charge, as he seemed interested "only in grasping power and purging his opponents and did not see the need for a reform policy."[11] By September 1894, the Japanese decided that the Daewongun was not trusted. By early October, it became clear that "the plan to use the Taewongun [Daewongun] as a vehicle for the reform program had misfired."[11] A Japanese statesman, Inoue Kaoru, was sent to Korea as the new resident minister, where he told the Daewongun, "You always stand in the way," and forced the Daewongun to promise that he would "abstain from interference in political affairs."[11] Kim Hong-jip's administration made sweeping progressive reforms despite cynicism from Daewongun, such as abolishing Joseon's caste system and the Gwageo and prohibit topknots through his new organization, the Gungukkimucheo. But constant infighting with cabinet members such as Park Young-hyo and changing involvement of the Japanese and the Russians caused the collapse of the Enlightenment Party, and the Gungukkimucheo, and his cabinet to collapse and then reestablish and change members four times. After the assassination of Queen Min and Gojong's internal exile to the Russian legation, Gojong ordered the arrest of pro-Japanese officials, causing the Gabo reform to end from 1894-1896 and the death and dismemberment of Kim Hong-jip.[16][17]

Cultural references[]

2018 Nokdu Flower (Korean Drama)

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Paine 2003, p. 113.
  2. ^ a b c d Olender 2014, p. 42.
  3. ^ James Z. Gao, "Historical Dictionary of Modern China (1800–1949)", 120
  4. ^ Olender 2014, pp. 42–43.
  5. ^ Olender 2014, p. 43.
  6. ^ Olender 2014, p. 44.
  7. ^ a b c d "Outbreak of the war: Japan and China dispatch troops to Korea, fighting begins – Declaration of war". The Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895: as seen in prints and archives. Japanese Center for Asian Historical Events and the British Library.
  8. ^ James McClain, "Japan a Modern History," 297
  9. ^ Seth, Michael J (2010). A History of Korea: From Antiquity to the Present. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. pp. 246–247. ISBN 978-0-7425-6716-0.
  10. ^ Kwang-Ching 1978, p. 105.
  11. ^ a b c d Conroy, Hilary. The Japanese Seizure of Korea, 1868–1910: A Study of Realism and Idealism in International Relations. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1960.
  12. ^ Lee Ki-Baek, down because he didn't follow the Japanese way. In exile, Japan broke up 'Gungukkimucheo' and brought back Park Young-Hyo. So, Kim and Park established the Second Cabinet as 'Kim and Park's coalition cabinet. They wrote a doctrine, 'Hongbeom-14 articles', which proposed reforms. But Hong-jip resigned from ministerrby feuds with Park. ea. Translated by Edward W. Wagner with Edward J. Shultz (Seoul: Ichokak Publishers, 1984), p. 270.
  13. ^ "The Academy of Korean Studies(한국학중앙연구원):수신사(Susinsa)".
  14. ^ Seth, Michael J (2010). A History of Korea: From Antiquity to the Present. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 246-247. ISBN 978-0-7425-6716-0.
  15. ^ Olender, Piotr (2014). Sino-Japanese Naval War 1894–1895. MMPBooks. ISBN 978-8-36367-830-2.
  16. ^ Korea through the Ages Vol. 2 p40-p43
  17. ^ Kang 2006, p. 483.

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