The Precarious Balance of Power in Late Joseon Korea

In the twilight years of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), Korea found itself caught in the crosscurrents of imperial rivalries. The November 12, 1884 predawn summons of reformist Kim Ok-gyun by King Gojong (Yi Hyeong) revealed the kingdom’s desperate political calculus. The monarch, effectively held hostage by his pro-Qing consort Queen Min and her powerful clan, saw Japanese-backed modernization as his only path to genuine sovereignty.

This power dynamic emerged from the 1876 Treaty of Ganghwa, which forced Korea open to Japan, and the 1882 Imo Mutiny where Qing China reasserted dominance. By 1884, three factions vied for control: the conservative Min-led Sadae faction (pro-Qing), the Enlightenment Party’s Gaehwa faction (pro-Japanese reformers), and the neutral Wijeongcheoksa isolationists. Kim Ok-gyun and his allies – including Hong Yeong-sik, Park Yeong-hyo, and Seo Gwang-bom – believed only drastic action could break China’s stranglehold.

The Powder Keg Ignites: Japan’s Provocative Maneuvers

The crisis escalated when Japanese troops conducted unusual nighttime artillery drills near Seoul’s Namsan foothills on November 11-12. As recorded in Kim’s memoirs, King Gojong anxiously reported: “The Japanese held military exercises deep into the night near South Mountain. What could Minister Takezoe possibly intend?” These drills, ostensibly routine, were actually coordinated with Kim’s planned uprising – a fact the pro-Qing faction quickly suspected.

Japanese Minister Takezoe Shinichiro played a dangerous double game. While presenting Tokyo with two policy options (Plan A: support rebels; Plan B: maintain status quo), he privately assured Kim’s faction of backing. The diplomatic correspondence lag – relying on monthly steamship deliveries between Inchon and Tokyo – created deliberate ambiguity. As Kim noted: “If we act before official instructions arrive, Takezoe can claim emergency measures were necessary.”

The Coup Unfolds: Fire and Steel in Seoul

December 4, 1884 provided the perfect cover – the grand opening of Seoul’s new post office, overseen by co-conspirator Hong Yeong-sik. The plan was meticulous:

1. Provocation: Gang leader Yi Yin-jong would torch the royal annex near Seo Gwang-bom’s residence
2. Decapitation Strike: Eight assassins would eliminate key Min officials including Yun Tae-jun (Minister of Military) and Min Yeong-ik (Queen’s nephew)
3. Japanese Intervention: 150 Japanese troops would “respond” to a forged royal request for protection

The operation nearly unraveled when Min Yeong-ik survived his assassination, fleeing to Qing commander Yuan Shikai’s compound. As documented in Yuan’s memoir Rong’an Disciples’ Records, the wounded official’s warning prompted Chinese forces to mobilize.

The 72-Hour Revolution and Its Violent Aftermath

For three days, the Gapsin reformers controlled the palace:
– December 4: Successful seizure of key government buildings
– December 5: King Gojong announces 14 progressive reforms including modern schools and tax restructuring
– December 6: Qing forces counterattack, routing Japanese troops in the Battle of Gyeongbokgung

The casualties told the story:
– 7 Japanese soldiers killed
– 40 Korean officials executed (including 4 cabinet ministers)
– Kim Ok-gyun and 25 leaders exiled to Japan

The Ripple Effects: From Seoul to Shimonoseki

The coup’s failure reshaped Northeast Asia:
1. Sino-Japanese Tensions: The 1885 Tianjin Convention temporarily eased conflict, but planted seeds for the 1894-95 war
2. Korean Modernization Delayed: Conservative factions regained control until the 1894 Gabo Reforms
3. Japanese Strategic Shift: Tokyo abandoned covert regime change for direct military confrontation

Historian Hilary Conroy noted: “The Gapsin failure convinced Japan that Korea’s modernization required first defeating China.” This calculus ultimately led to the First Sino-Japanese War.

The Enduring Legacy of Korea’s First Modern Coup

The Gapsin Coup remains controversial:
– Nationalist View: A patriotic attempt to break feudal shackles
– Realist Perspective: A premature gamble that invited foreign domination
– Cultural Impact: Inspired later independence movements, including the 1919 March 1st protests

Modern parallels emerge in divided Korea’s geopolitical struggles. As Seoul’s Gyeongbok Palace now houses a museum exhibit on the coup, visitors ponder a persistent question: Can radical change ever succeed when great powers dictate a nation’s fate? The Gapsin rebels’ tragic answer still echoes through Korea’s tumultuous journey toward self-determination.