Korean Empire -------------------- The Korean Empire is the name of the state of Korea that existed from the Proclamation of the Korean Empire in October 1897 to the Annexation of Korea by Japan on August 20, 1910. It succeeded the Joseon Dynasty. In October 1897, Emperor Gojong proclaimed the new entity at Gyeongungung Palace and oversaw the partially successful modernization of the military, economy, land system, education system, and various industries. Japan became wary of the speed at which the Korean Empire was modernizing and decided to speed up its plans for annexation. These plans were accelerated after the assassination of Ito Hirobumi. On August 22, 1910, Korea was annexed by Imperial Japan. With the assassination of his wife Empress Myeongseong, King Gojong and Crown Prince (later became Emperor Sunjong) fled to the Russian legation in 1896. During the time from Queen Min's death to the king's return from Russian protection, Korea underwent another major upheaval both at home and abroad. By 1894, new laws passed by pro-Japanese progressives in the royal cabinet forced through long-desired reforms aimed at revamping Korea's antiquated society. These laws were called the Gabo Reforms referring to the year (1894) in which they began. Meanwhile, the new reforms aimed at modernizing Korean society soon attracted controversy from within. Anti-Japanese sentiment, which had already become entrenched in the minds of commoners and aristocrats alike during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592--1598), became pervasive in the royal court and upper echelons of society following the Ganghwa Treaty of 1876 and soon extended explosively to most Koreans following perceived Japanese meddling in court politics and the assassination of Empress Myeongseong. However, the new and modern reforms pushed forward by the pro-Japanese progressives, the most controversial of which was the mandatory cutting of male hair buns, ignited further resentment and discontent. This led to the uprising of the Eulmi temporary armies aimed at avenging the assassination of Empress Myeongseong. In 1897, King Gojong, yielding to rising pressure from both 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 the new era name Gwangmu (meaning warrior of light), effectively severing Korea's superficial historic ties as a tributary of Qing Dynasty, which Korea had adhered to since the prior Manchurian invasion in 1636. King Gojong became the Gwangmu Emperor, the first imperial head of state and hereditary sovereign of the Empire of Korea. This marked the complete end of the old world order and traditional amicable dependency system in the Far East. Korea's new status as an empire meant "Completely independence from Qing's sphere of influence" which means Korea was not influenced from Qing externally according to the Treaty of Shimonoseki of 1895 and also implemented the "full and complete" independence according to the treaty. The name, meaning "Great Han Empire," was chosen to indicate the revival of the Samhan confederacies of the Proto--Three Kingdoms of Korea, in the tradition of naming new states after historic states. The significance of the declaration of an Empire, in the Korean understanding of the situation was to declare Koreas independence and equality with China and Japan. Historically, the usage of Emperor was reserved for the Chinese Emperor, the Son of Heaven. Korean dynasties had acknowledged themselves as vassals of the Chinese, and had refrained from ever declaring their equality with China. When Japan experienced the Meiji Restoration, the Japanese Emperor was declared the source of sovereignty in the Japanese government. The Japanese government sent news of the Meiji Restoration, the Korean government refused to acknowledge the change. Not only did it challenge the primacy of the Chinese Emperor as the suzerains of Korea but Japans address also addressed Korea as an equal, rather then as a Chinese subservient. The change in title for Korea to Empire only became possible after the Sino-Japanese war. The Gwangmu reform was aimed at modernizing and westernizing Korea as a late starter in the industrial revolution. However, Gwangmu Reform was not radical because of foreign liabilities, suppression of democracy, and various other factors. As a result, Korea was suppressed by Japan, China, and Russia. More information at: - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Empire - http://koreanhistory.info/oldphotos.htm - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7xGg5GOfWU - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDxS3bvFTBc - http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/List_of_monarchs_of_Korea - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ9zyGYJJr8 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=566qUSeeWgU

• published: 08 Jan 2014
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