History of Korea

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Challenges of Modernization - Reform Attempts

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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 administrative reform proposals submitted by the Donghak rebels at the time of the cease-fire in Jeonju in 1894. This peasant struggle was utilized by the Japanese army for its aggressive purposes. Then, in the course of the Sino-Japanese War, Japan forced Korea to carry out reform by armed threat, while expelling the China-oriented conservative politicians from the government. The peace treaty ending the Sino-Japanese War was concluded on April 17, 1895, at Shimonoseki, Japan. China's influence waned, and the Korean government was forcibly integrated into Japan's design of imperialistic aggression.

On July 27, 1894, a Supreme Council for Military and State Administration was established to function as the nation's highest executive and legislative organ. On July 29, it passed a 23-article reform plan, but this was not by any means autonomous, as it was accompanied by the aggressive intent of Japan. The reform movement was led mainly by politicians heavily Japan-oriented, but the Daewongun fought Japanese aggression by inciting Donghak followers to engage in anti-Japanese activities.

The Supreme Council passed no less than 208 reform measures. These included: the use of the founding of the Joseon Dynasty as a basis for the calendar; disciplinary action against corrupt officials; the liberalization of commercial activities; the establishment of a new currency system on the silver standard; unity in financial administration under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance; the standardization of weights and measures; cash payment of all taxes; the establishment of joint stock companies; the separation of judicial power in accordance with the law of court reorganization; and the unification of police power. In spite of these measures, the reform could hardly be substantial. On December 17, the Kim Hongjip cabinet was excluded from political circles and the Supreme Council for Military and State Administration was closed.

The new cabinet attempted a reform on the basis of the 14-article Great Plan in an abbreviated version of those reform measures. The plan aimed at the following: national autonomy and independence; the separation of the royal court and the government; the introduction of the budget system to national revenue and expenditure under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance; the observance of the statutory rates in collecting taxes; the education of military officers; the establishment of a military system on the basis of universal conscription; the reform of the local government system; the protection of civil life and property; the enactment of civil and criminal codes; the employment of competent persons at government offices; and the provision of opportunities for talented young men to pursue advanced studies abroad to acquire modern knowledge and techniques.

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No.	Subject	Views
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 31376
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 30773
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 31102
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 30828

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