History of Korea

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Challenges of Modernization - Arguments for Repulsion / Reformists

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Arguments for Repulsion

Korea's learned Confucianists, on the basis of information obtained through Qing China, regarded the infiltration of European capitalist power as a potentially disruptive intrusion. They wanted to strengthen their alignment with Neo-Confucian ethics, and grew intolerant of new creeds. The closing of many local schools by the Daewongun in 1864 increased apathy. Deprived of their spiritual, political and financial strongholds, the Confucian literati felt a need to restore Neo-Confucian supremacy. Another factor conducive to xenophobia was the invasion of Korean waters by foreign fleets in 1866.
These factors stimulated Yi Hangro (1792-1868) to strongly advocate repelling European capitalist encroachment. He called for political reform and stability, and the reinforcement of Korea's national defense capability. His conclusion was that Europeanization of the country could be prevented by keeping capitalism out. He proposed the boycotting of all European goods. His disciples and many Confucian scholars and thinkers affiliated with his school also called for the strengthening of national defense.
In 1881, many Confucianists raised objections to the policies of China and Japan. About that time, Baek Nakgwan proposed that Korea should open up to foreign interests only after it had prepared fully for commercial competition. Some of these Confucianists were punished on charges of opposing state policy. Those Confucianists who advocated the repulsion of foreign influence were primarily oriented toward practical reform measures and not abstract ideas.
Reformists
A Korean "goodwill mission" was invited to Japan in 1876 and 1880, to inspect various new institutions Japan had installed on European models. On his return in 1880, Kim Goengjip (later known as Kim Hongjip) brought to Korea a booklet titled Joseon chaengnyak (Korean Stratagem) written by a Chinese official of the Qing legation in Japan. It advised Korea to accept European institutions and technology for the sake of economic development, and to strengthen its defense capability in collaboration with China, Japan and the United States in order to check Russia's southward expansion.
Once this "stratagem" became known in Korea, Confucian scholars, who in 1876 had advocated the expulsion of Japanese influence, launched a movement strongly opposed to the infiltration of foreign capitalism. The movement soon spread among Confucian students in Gyeongsang-do, Gangwon-do, Gyeonggi-do, Chungcheong-do and Jeolla-do Province. The government dispatched a group of young aristocrats to Japan in 1881 for a study of administrative, military, educational, industrial and technological institutions. Meanwhile, at the request of Qing China, another group of 60 young Koreans led by Kim Yunsik visited China, where they studied chiefly the arts of manufacturing and handling Western weapons. This kind of reform attempt arose within the government itself, and the wave soon spread to engulf not only the yangban and middle classes but the society as a whole.

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Late Joseon Period - Welfare Programs Welfare Programs The ideal of a Confucian welfare state during the Joseon Dynasty was conceived and implemented by King Sejong in the 15th century, but it was Yi Sugwang who elaborated on the philosophy of welfare in the period following the Hideyoshi invasions. He expounded the idea that the Way of Heaven was to be found among the people, and its noblest realization was to feed and clothe the people ... Views 30319
Late Joseon Period - Reform Attempts Reform Attempts In the early 19th century, the Korean economy and social conditions improved. The people in general thought that foreign ideas and European commercial enterprise in particular should be taken seriously. Some officials advocated a thorough reform of national finance. The central government examined the proposal, but its implementation was thwarted by a struggle for power. There were numerous agrarian ... Views 31139
Late Joseon Period - Peasant Wars of 1812 and 1862 Peasant Wars of 1812 and 1862 During this period, drought and flood alternately struck the country, causing a succession of bad harvests, which in turn generated a grim cycle of famine. Excessive tax collection and forced labor ensued. These adverse natural and social conditions ignited a series of agrarian revolts. In 1812, Hong Gyeongrae rose up in revolt with the peasants at Gasan, in the northern part of ... Views 31387
Challenges of Modernization - Response to Capitalist Encroachment Response to Capitalist Encroachment During the late 19th century, insistent demands for commercial relations with Joseon were made by the British, the Russians and other Europeans. The Prussian merchant Ernest J. Oppert in 1866 twice knocked on Korea's door and requested trade, but was refused. In the same year the American ship General Sherman made its memorable sortie into Korean waters with the objective of ... Views 31678
Challenges of Modernization - Arguments for Repulsion / Reformists Arguments for Repulsion Korea's learned Confucianists, on the basis of information obtained through Qing China, regarded the infiltration of European capitalist power as a potentially disruptive intrusion. They wanted to strengthen their alignment with Neo-Confucian ethics, and grew intolerant of new creeds. The closing of many local schools by the Daewongun in 1864 increased apathy. Deprived of their spiritua... Views 30783
Challenges of Modernization - Opposition to Japan Opposition to Japan The Japanese minister to Korea, Hanabusa Yoshimoto, forced the Korean government to introduce the Japanese army training system, and a separate training command was established for this purpose. Implementation of army reorganization and training was of itself an effective springboard for aggression. Japan monopolized the Korean market in 1876. Two years later, Japan's Daiichi Bank established a branch ... Views 30840
Challenges of Modernization - Political Upheaval of 1884 Political Upheaval of 1884 The conclusion of a series of commercial treaties between Joseon and foreign countries intensified the encroachment of capitalist powers. A group of reformists denounced the leading politicians for their reliance on foreign influence and tried to introduce reforms that would improve social conditions, enrich the people and strengthen national power. The main concern of Kim Okgyun... Views 30716
Challenges of Modernization - Donghak Struggle of 1894 Donghak Struggle of 1894 Donghak, or Eastern Learning, was based on the doctrine of the salvation of farmers from their destitute lives. Although its preaching had a religious aspect, the main concern was to realize national stability and security. Seeing that his teaching was gaining in popularity, the government executed Choe Je-u in 1864 on charges of treason. His movement lived on, however, and poverty-stricken... Views 30904
Challenges of Modernization - Reform Attempts Reform Attempts The unsuccessful 1884 coup d'etat brought frustration to the reform efforts, but the need for reform still was keenly felt by the populace and some leaders of the government as well. The disintegration of the traditional social order was accelerated by the peasant struggle. Such developments led Korea to implement institutional reform. The conservative government had been compelled to accept the ad... Views 31103
Challenges of Modernization - Intensified Japanese Aggression Intensified Japanese Aggression Japanese aggression in Korea was "a matter of life or death," as was earlier expressed by Hayashi Tadashi, an one-time Japanese minister to London. As Japanese aggression intensified, the Min clique collaborated with Russian Minister Karl Waeber to force Kim Hongjip to reorganize his cabinet, and pro-Russian figures such as Yi Beomjin were given cabinet posts. The government, reorganizing ... Views 30839

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