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Japanese occupation of Gyeongbokgung

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Occupation of Seoul

  • Comment: Unsure what the McClain book is (possibly Japan: A Modern History?) and the Boulger & Hazeltine book. Also odd that the page numbers are question marks. Zoozaz1 talk 15:56, 28 July 2021 (UTC)
Occupation of Seoul
Part of Donghak Peasant Revolution and the First Sino-Japanese War

Ōtori Keisuke escorts Daewongun to the royal palace as Ōshima Yoshimasa engages the palace garrisons
Date24 July 1894
Location
Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul, Korea
Result

Japanese victory

Belligerents

 Empire of Japan

Kingdom of Joseon

Commanders and leaders
Ōtori Keisuke
Ōshima Yoshimasa
Heungseon Daewongun		 Gojong
Myeongseong
Strength
IJA 9th Infantry Brigade (Oshima Composite Brigade): 8,000 Naegeumwi (Royal guards)
Muwiyŏng (Palace Guards Garrison)
Changŏyŏng (Capital Guards Garrison)

The Occupation of Seoul occurred on July 24th, 1894 during the ceasefire of the Donghak Peasant Revolution and the beginning of the Sino-Japanese War. The Imperial Japanese forces led by Japanese Minister Plenipotentiary to Korea Ōtori Keisuke and Ōshima Yoshimasa, stormed the palace defended by the modernized palace garrison to restore King Gojong's father Heungseon Daewongun to power and establish a Pro-Japanese government.

Overview

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 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 troops 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.[6]

According to the Japanese, the Chinese government had violated the Convention of Tientsin by not informing the Japanese government of its decision to send troops, but the Chinese claimed that Japan had approved the decision.[7] 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.[8]

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][9] 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. When Korea demanded that Japan and the Qing withdraw their troops from Korea, Ōtori ordered Ōshima to march to Hanseong and surround Gyeongbokgung palace.[10]

On July 23 at 4:30 am, Ōshima Yoshimasa, the 8,000 Japanese troops, laid siege to Gyeongbokgung palace. The army engaged the Naegeumwi (the royal guards), and the modernized palace units, the Muwiyŏng (Palace Guards Garrison) and the Changŏyŏng (Capital Guards Garrison) in a firefight. Then the Japanese broke through the palace gates and engaged in close-quarters combat with casualties suffered on both sides. After hours of fighting, the Japanese captured Korean king Gojong and occupied the palace.[11] By June 25, they had replaced the existing Korean government with members of the pro-Japanese faction.[8] Even though Qing forces were already leaving Korea after they found themselves unneeded there, the new pro-Japanese Korean government granted Japan the right to expel Qing forces and Japan dispatched more troops to Korea. The Qing Empire rejected the new Korean government as illegitimate.

Aftermath

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

King Gojong surrendered political control to his father and replaced the existing Korean government with the pro-Japanese faction to expel the Qing and begin the Gabo Reform.[12] On 24 July 1894, Ōshima Yoshimasa telegrammed the Chief of General Staff, outlining the attack. Because the Qing Government did not inform the Japanese Government of the King's request for aid, the Japanese started preparations to attack the Qing forces at Asan, leading to the Battle of Seonghwan of the First Sino-Japanese War which they won.[13] 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.

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. ^ James McClain, "Japan a Modern History", 297
  8. ^ a b 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.
  9. ^ Kwang-Ching 1978, p. 105.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ Olender, Piotr (2014). Sino-Japanese Naval War 1894–1895. MMPBooks. ISBN 978-8-36367-830-2.

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Category:Conflicts in 1894 Category:Joseon dynasty Category:1894 in Korea


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