The Tinderbox of 1894: Rising Tensions in Korea

In the summer of 1894, Korea became the focal point of escalating tensions between Japan and Qing China, two regional powers vying for influence over the strategically located peninsula. The Korean government, nominally autonomous but long under Chinese suzerainty, found itself caught in this geopolitical struggle. Japan, having modernized rapidly after the Meiji Restoration, sought to challenge China’s traditional dominance in Korea through a combination of diplomatic pressure and military posturing.

The immediate spark came when Korea’s Donghak peasant rebellion prompted both China and Japan to send troops under the pretext of protecting their interests. While China claimed to act as Korea’s traditional protector, Japan insisted on recognizing Korea’s independence—a stance that masked its own expansionist ambitions. By mid-July, over 8,000 Japanese soldiers had landed at Chemulpo (modern Incheon), far outnumbering the Chinese forces stationed at Asan.

The Midnight Coup: Japan’s Capture of Gyeongbokgung Palace

On July 23, 1894, Japan executed a meticulously planned operation to seize control of Korea’s royal palace in Seoul—an event that would fundamentally alter the course of East Asian history. As revealed in later uncovered military drafts from Japan’s Army General Staff, the attack was anything but the “defensive response” initially claimed by Japanese diplomat Mutsu Munemitsu.

The operation unfolded with military precision:
– At 00:30, Major General Ōshima Yoshimasa mobilized his mixed brigade after receiving coded orders from Tokyo
– Engineer units attempted to blast open Gyeongbokgung’s gates before resorting to axes and saws
– By dawn, Japanese troops had secured all palace gates despite sporadic Korean resistance
– King Gojong and Queen Min were found cowering in the Hamhwadang hall, their guards disarmed

Crucially, documents show the operation was premeditated. As early as July 19, Ōshima had received secret orders authorizing independent action, while naval forces prepared to intercept Chinese reinforcements—a clear indication this was no spontaneous response to Korean aggression.

The Puppetmaster’s Hand: Installing the Daewongun

Even as Japanese soldiers secured the palace, a parallel political drama unfolded. Japanese diplomats, led by First Secretary Sugimura Fukashi, worked feverishly to install the Daewongun (King Gojong’s father) as a pro-Japanese regent. This elderly statesman, who had ruled Korea as regent decades earlier, initially resisted Japanese overtures until:
– Sugimura produced a signed pledge guaranteeing Korea’s territorial integrity
– The Japanese staged his “summons” by the captive king
– The Daewongun publicly blamed his son for Korea’s troubles during a surreal palace encounter

By noon on July 23, Japan had achieved its immediate objectives: physical control of the monarchy and establishment of a compliant government. The speed and coordination between military and diplomatic elements revealed this as a textbook example of gunboat diplomacy.

Shockwaves Across East Asia

The palace seizure triggered immediate consequences:
1. Military Escalation: Within days, Japanese forces would attack Chinese troops at Asan and sink the British-flagged Kowshing transport, ensuring full-scale war
2. Diplomatic Fallout: The blatant violation of Korean sovereignty shocked Western observers, though none intervened
3. Korean Trauma: The spectacle of their monarch becoming a prisoner in his own palace shattered Korea’s illusion of independence

Historian Nakatsuka Akira’s research on draft war histories proves Japanese accounts were deliberately falsified. Where original documents spoke of “capturing” the king, published versions softened this to “protecting”—a pattern repeated throughout what Japanese textbooks still call the “Righteous War.”

The Forgotten Korean War

Scholars like Hiyama Yukio and Harada Keiichi rightly identify July 23 as the true start of the “Korean War”—a conflict distinct from the broader Sino-Japanese War that followed. This framing acknowledges:
– Korea as primary battleground rather than peripheral theater
– Korean agency and suffering often overshadowed by the China-Japan narrative
– The palace coup as the moment Japan’s imperial ambitions became undeniable

The installed Daewongun government would soon “request” Japanese forces expel Chinese troops—exactly as planners had envisioned. This cynical manipulation of Korean sovereignty established a template Japan would later use in Manchuria and across its empire.

Legacy of a Stolen Palace

The July 23 incident’s modern relevance becomes clear when examining:
– Historical Memory: South Korea’s preservation of Gyeongbokgung as a national symbol of resilience
– Diplomatic Parallels: Contemporary debates over foreign military interventions often echo 1894 justifications
– Regional Tensions: The incident planted seeds of distrust that still affect Northeast Asian relations

Most importantly, it reminds us how quickly “peacekeeping” can become conquest when great powers collide over weaker nations. The Japanese soldiers who sawed through Gyeongbokgung’s gates that morning weren’t just breaking into a palace—they were breaking the old East Asian order beyond repair.

The true tragedy lies in how Korea’s attempted modernization under the Gabo Reformers became collateral damage in this imperial showdown. What began at dawn on July 23 would culminate in Japan’s 1910 annexation of Korea—a road to colonialism paved with broken gates and even more broken promises.