The End of Joseon: Daewongun's Regency and Foreign Powers Intrusions (Part 1) (Korean History)

Описание: #korea #koreanhistory #koreanculture #history #joseon #historyofkorea (episode 48)

In this first of two episodes, I will explore the important events that took place in Joseon from 1864 to 1882. I will start by talking about Heungseon Daewongun 흥선대원군, born Yi Ha-eung 이하응, who was a major political figure in Joseon politics. He was the father of King Gojong 고종. Gojong was the last king of the Joseon Dynasty and first Emperor of Korea. Gojong’s was married to Empress Myeongseong 명성황후.

First, Heungseon Daewongun was for many years the regent of his son, Gojong, and his politics influenced Joseon for many years. He enforced Joseon’s seclusion policy, which gave the epithet Hermit Kingdom to Joseon. He attempted many reforms and exhausted a lot of the kingdom’s resources for the reconstruction of Gyeongbok Palace 경복궁. The persecution of Catholics continued during his regency and foreign powers (France, Russia, USA, Japan, China…) interfered on Korea soil.

Then, Joseon engaged in skirmishes with French soldiers who came to Korea to seek reparations for French priests who were executed by Daewongun. Later there was the General Sherman incident where American merchants were killed by Joseon troops. This led to the United States expedition to Korea (Shinmiyangyo 신미양요) which ended in violence.

Soon after, the Unyo incident 운요호 사건 occurred, where a Japanese gunboat attacked the west coast of Korea on Ganghwa Island 강화도. This led to the Treaty of Ganghwa Island 강화도 조약, the first in a long line of unequal treaties that Joseon signed with foreign powers, especially Japan. This treaty signalled the beginning of Japan’s interests in Joseon.

These battles with foreign powers caught Joseon unprepared. Koreans also realized that they were not technologically on par with other foreign powers. Joseon’s military wasn’t modernized and Joseon’s dependance on Imperial Qing China 大清 was starting to show its flaws…

Finally, plots to remove Gojong abounded, one of these implicated his half-brother Prince Imperial Waneun 완은군. Heungseon Daewongun might’ve been involved in this plot and, as we will see later, this is not the first plot against Gojong and Myeonseong that Daewongun might’ve been implicated in…

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*Other figures and topics explored in this video:
King Cheoljong 철종, Yi Myeong-bok 이명복, Emperor Gojong 고종 광무제, Yeoheung Min clan 여흥 민씨, Queen Wongyeong 원경왕후 민씨, Imjin War 임진왜란, Changdeok Palace 창덕궁, Seowon 서원, Taiping Rebellion 太平天國運動, Hong Xiuquan 洪秀全, Min Seung-ho 민승호, Kanagawa Treaty 神奈川条約, Commodore Matthew C. Perry, Treaty of Peace, Amity, Commerce and Navigation 조·미수호통상조약