Gojong of Korea

Gojong (Korean: 고종; Hanja: 高宗; RR: Gojong; MR: Kojong), the
Emperor Gwangmu (Korean: 광무제; Hanja: 光武帝; RR: Gwangmuje;
Gojong of Korea
MR: Kwangmuje; 8 September 1852 – 21 January 1919), was the last King 大韓帝國高宗
of Joseon and the first Emperor of Korea. 대한제국 고종

Contents
Biography
Early reign
External pressures and unequal treaties
Imo Rebellion and Gapsin Coup
Peasant revolts
The assassination of Queen Min
Anti-Japanese sentiments in Korea
Korea royal refuge at the Russian legation
Proclamation of empire
Emperor of Korea
After abdication
Emperor Emeritus of Korea
Family
Reign 20 July 1907 – 29 August 1910
Honours
Emperor of Korea
Ancestry
Reign 13 October 1897 –
In popular culture 19 July 1907
See also Predecessor As the king of Joseon
Notes Successor Sunjong
References King of Joseon
External links Reign 21 January 1864 –
13 October 1897
Predecessor Cheoljong
Biography Successor As the Emperor of Korea
Regents See list
Early reign Heungseon Daewongun
(1863–1873)
Gojong took the Joseon throne in early 1864 when he was still a child. As a
Queen Myeongseong
minor, his father, the Heungseon Daewongun (or more commonly, the
(1873–1895)
Daewongun), ruled as regent for him until Gojong reached adulthood.

During the mid-1860s, the Heungseon Daewongun was the main Born 8 September 1852
proponent of isolationism and was responsible for the persecution of Unhyeon Palace, Hanseong,
native and foreign Catholics, a policy that led directly to the French Joseon
invasion and the United States expedition to Korea in 1871. The early Died 21 January 1919 (aged 66)
years of the Daewongun's rule also witnessed a concerted effort to restore
Deoksu Palace, Keijō,
the largely dilapidated Gyeongbok Palace, the seat of royal authority.
Japanese Korea
During the Daewongun's reign, Joseon factional politics, the Seowons
(private academies that often doubled as epicenters of factional power), Burial Hongneung
and the power wielded by the Andong Kim clan all completely disappeared Spouse Empress Myeongseong
as political forces within Korean state life. Issue Emperor Sunjong
Prince Imperial Ui
In 1873, Gojong announced his assumption of direct royal rule. In
Crown Prince Euimin
November 1874, with the retirement of the Heungseon Daewongun,
Princess Deokhye
Gojong's consort, Queen Min (posthumously known as Empress
Myeongseong), gained complete control over the court, filling senior court Era dates
positions with members of her family. This angered Heungseon Gaeguk (개국, 開國; 1894 – 1895)
Daewongun, who was exiled from the court. Some relatives of Heungseon
Geonyang (건양, 建陽; 1896 –
Daewongun and members of the Southerner faction plotted a coup.
1897)
Gwangmu (광무, 光武; 1897 –
External pressures and unequal treaties 1907)
Posthumous name
In the 19th century, tensions mounted between Qing China and Japan,
culminating in the First Sino-Japanese War in 1894–1895. Much of this Emperor Munheon Mujang Inik
war was fought on the Korean peninsula. Japan, after the Meiji Jeonghyo The Great
Restoration, acquired Western military technology and secured a victory (문헌무장인익정효태황제, 文憲武章
against Joseon forces in Ganghwa Island, forcing Joseon to sign the Treaty 仁翼貞孝太皇帝)
of Ganghwa in 1876. Japan encroached upon Korean territory in search of Temple name
fish, iron ore, and other natural resources. It also established a strong
economic presence in the peninsula, heralding the beginning of Japanese Gojong (고종, 高宗)
Imperial expansion in East Asia. House House of Yi

The French campaign against Korea of 1866, the United States expedition Father Heungseon Daewongun
to Korea in 1871, and the Ganghwa Island incident all put pressure on Mother Grand Internal Princess
many of Joseon's officials, including King Gojong. Consort Sunmok of the
Yeoheung Min clan
The Treaty of Ganghwa became the first unequal treaty signed between
Korea and a foreign country; it gave extraterritorial rights to Japanese Religion Confucianism
citizens in Korea and forced the Korean government to open three ports, Signature
Busan, Incheon, and Wonsan, to Japanese and foreign trade. With the
signing of its first unequal treaty, Korea became easy prey for many
imperialistic powers, and later the treaty led to Korea being annexed by
Japan.[2] Korean name
Hangul 고종 광무제
Imo Rebellion and Gapsin Coup (short 고종)
Hanja 高宗光武帝
King Gojong began to rely on a new paid army(byeolgigun) of rifle-equipped (short 高宗)
soldiers. Unlike the well-treated new army, the old army had not received a salary
for 13 months. Then the old army received a month's salary, which was in poor Revised Gojong
condition and in short supply. As a result, the Old Army caused a riot and Romanization Gwangmuje (short
Heungseon Daewongun seized power.[3] However Chinese troops, led by the Qing Gojong)
Chinese general Yuan Shikai, soon abducted the Daewongun and took him to McCune– Kojong
China, thus foiling his return to power. Four years later the Daewongun returned Reischauer Kwangmuje (short
to Korea. Kojong)

During the Imo incident when Queen Min was taking refuge in her relative’s villa, Birth name
Lady Seon-yeong of the Yeongwol Eom clan had shown extreme devotion towards Hangul 이명복, later 이
King Gojong. Because of her loyalty, he promoted her to the Jimil Sanggung; 5th
희
senior rank of Women of the Internal Court.[4] When Queen Min came back, she
had Lady Seon-yeong banished from the royal palace when she discovered the Hanja 李命福, later 李
court lady wearing Gojong’s clothing at the age of 32 in 1885. The court lady’s 㷩[1]
position was changed to Seoin. Revised I Myeong-bok,
On 4 December 1884, five revolutionaries initiated the Gapsin Coup, an attempted Romanization later I Hui
coup d'état, by leading a small anti-old minister army, attempting to detain King McCune– Yi Myŏng-bok,
Gojong and Queen Min. The coup failed after 3 days. Some of its leaders, including Reischauer later Yi Hŭi
Kim Okgyun, fled to Japan, and others were executed.
Peasant revolts

Widespread poverty presented significant challenges to the 19th century

Joseon Dynasty. One indication of this poverty was the poor conditions of life
suffered by those of the lower classes, who often had little to eat and lived in
little more than run-down shanties lined along roads of dirt and mud.[5]
Several factors, including famine, poverty, high taxes, and corruption among
the ruling class, led to many notable peasant revolts in the 19th century. King
Gojong's predecessors had suppressed an 1811–1812 revolt in the Pyeongan King Gojong (later Emperor Gwangmu) in
Province, led by Hong Gyeong-nae.[6] 1884. Photo by Percival Lowell

In 1894, another major revolt, the Donghak Peasant Revolution took hold as
an anti-government, anti-yangban, and anti-foreign campaign. To suppress the rebellion, the Joseon government
requested military aid from Japan, thus deepening Japanese claims to Korea as a protectorate. [7] The revolution
ultimately failed, but many of the peasants' grievances were later addressed with the Gabo Reform.

The assassination of Queen Min

In 1895, Empress Myeongseong was assassinated by Japanese agents. The Japanese minister to Korea, Miura Gorō
orchestrated the plot against her. A group of Japanese agents entered the 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.

Anti-Japanese sentiments in Korea

By 1895 Japan had won the First Sino-Japanese War, gaining much more influence over the Korean government. The
Gabo reforms and the assassination of the Queen also stirred controversy in Korea, fomenting Korean anti-Japanese
sentiments.

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.

Korea royal refuge at the Russian legation

On 11 February 1896, King Gojong and his crown prince fled from the Gyeongbokgung to the Russian legation in Seoul,
from which they governed for about one year, an event known as the Korea royal refuge at the Russian legation. After
Queen Min died, Lady Seon-yeong re-entered the palace as Gwi-in Eom and lived with Gojong and the crown prince in
the Russian legation where she gave birth to Crown Prince Euimin in 1897. Her status had changed to Sunbin and
Sunbi, but was later given the title of Imperial Noble Consort Sunheon of the Yeongwol Eom clan.

Proclamation of empire

In 1897, King Gojong, yielding to rising pressure from overseas and the demands of the Independence Association-led
public opinion, returned to Gyeongungung (modern-day Deoksugung). There he proclaimed the founding of the
Empire of Korea, officially redesignated the national title as such, and declared a new era name Gwangmu (Hangul: 광
무, Hanja: 光武) (meaning, "shining and martial"). This effectively ended Korea's historic subordination to the Qing
empire which Korea had acknowledged since the fall of the Ming Dynasty, King Gojong took the title of Gwangmu
Emperor and became the first imperial head of state and hereditary sovereign of the Empire of Korea.

This marked the end of the traditional Chinese tributary system in the Far East. Adopting the status of Empire meant
that Korea was declaring itself the co-equal of Qing China, that it was independent of it and, at least nominally, it
implemented the "full and complete" independence of Korea as recognized in 1895.

When Heungseon Daewongun died in 1898, Emperor Gwangmu refused to attend the funeral of his father as the
relationship between father and son was broken. But it also said that when the Emperor looked over the palace wall,
his cries were heard.[8][9]
Since the seat of the empress was vacant, Gojong wanted to make Imperial Noble
Consort Sunheon his empress, but this was opposed by Lee Jun-yong and Korean
refugees who created a movement to stop the action, in which they succeeded.
Although not empress, she persuaded and recommended Yun Yong-seon’s adoptive
granddaughter, Lady Jeongsun of the Haepyeong Yun clan, as wife for the crown
prince since she remembered the grace and assistance she received from Yun during
her banishment.

Emperor of Korea

Gojong proclaimed the Korean Empire in October 1897 to justify the country's
ending of its traditional alliance with China. He tried to promote the Gwangmu
Reform, which aimed at modernizing and industrializing the new empire.

On September 12th (July 25th in the lunar calendar) of 1898, the emperor was the
target of a failed assassination attempt by interpreter Kim hong-ryuk (金鴻陸), who
had lost his political power during the Korea royal refuge at the Russian legation, by
poisoning the coffee of the emperor and the prince with opium.[10]

In 1904-5, the Japanese military achieved a comprehensive victory in the Russo- Portrait of Emperor Gojong (age
Japanese War. Following the Protectorate Treaty of 1905 between Korea and Japan, 49)
which stripped Korea of its rights as an independent nation, Gojong sent
representatives to the Hague Peace Convention of 1907 to try to re-assert his
sovereignty over Korea. Although the Korean representatives were blocked by the
Japanese delegates, they did not give up, and later held interviews with
newspapers.

One representative warned forebodingly of Japanese ambitions in Asia:

"The United States does not realize what Japan's policy in the Far East
is and what it portends for the American people. The Japanese adopted
a policy that in the end will give her complete control over commerce
and industry in the Far East. Japan is bitter against the United States
and against Great Britain. If the United States does not watch Japan
closely she will force the Americans and the English out of the Far
East."

As a result, Gojong was forced to abdicate by the Japanese, and Gojong's son
Emperor Gojong and the Crown
Sunjong succeeded him to the throne.
Prince Sunjong
During Sunjong's reign, the kingdom of Joseon ended with the Japanese
annexation of Korea in 1910.

After abdication

After abdicating, Emperor Gojong was confined to the Deoksu Palace. On 22 August 1910, the Empire of Korea was
annexed by Japan under the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty. In the treaty, Gojong lost his title as a former emperor;
instead, he received a new title, "King Emeritus Yi of Deoksu" (徳寿宮李太王), and was recognized as a member of the
imperial family of Japan.

Gojong died suddenly on 21 January 1919 at Deoksugung Palace at the age of 66. There is much speculation that he
was killed by a poison administered by Japanese officials, an idea that gained wide circulation and acceptance at the
time of his death. His death and subsequent funeral proved a catalyst for the March First Movement for Korean
independence from Japanese rule.[11] He is buried with his wife at the imperial tomb of Hongneung (홍릉, 洪陵) in the
city of Namyangju.