- 19 Sep 2013 11:01
#14300844
The assasination of Empress Myeongseong was one of the very rare true "olympus has fallen" operations in history. She was the last empress of Korea:
She was married to emperor Gojong. Gojong himself was a very weak emperor. The empress virtually ruled the country with an iron fist. She did evrything to oppose Japan and to destroy good relations between the empire of Korea and the Empire of Japan. She called Japan barbarians and wanted better relations with russia to block Japan.
After many of her wrong decissions it as decided in Japan that she must be removed. Our minister Miura Gorō who was reponsible for all matters regarding Korea created a plan that would remove Empress Myeongseong in a way that would not cost much human lifes. The goal was to do what was necessary without war.
On 8 October 1895 an elite group of japanese soldiers stormed the korean imperial palace. They overpowerd the royal guards and walked into the inner circle of the palace to search the empress. Eye witnesses say that they found 3 courtwomen. One of them was the empress and killed them on the spot:
The body of the empress was burned on the palace grounds to prevent a future cult around her:
All japanese soldiers returned back Japan. To ease the situation between Korea and Japan a trial started but all were set free because lack of evidence.
After the removal of the empress the korean emperor Gojong showed a much better behavior towards Japan and signed peace treaties and other treaties which granted better relations between Japan and Korea.
I think that could be a solution for the today conflict with North Korea as well. It would save much human life on both sides. We should learn from the past and use sucessful tactics.
She was married to emperor Gojong. Gojong himself was a very weak emperor. The empress virtually ruled the country with an iron fist. She did evrything to oppose Japan and to destroy good relations between the empire of Korea and the Empire of Japan. She called Japan barbarians and wanted better relations with russia to block Japan.
After many of her wrong decissions it as decided in Japan that she must be removed. Our minister Miura Gorō who was reponsible for all matters regarding Korea created a plan that would remove Empress Myeongseong in a way that would not cost much human lifes. The goal was to do what was necessary without war.
On 8 October 1895 an elite group of japanese soldiers stormed the korean imperial palace. They overpowerd the royal guards and walked into the inner circle of the palace to search the empress. Eye witnesses say that they found 3 courtwomen. One of them was the empress and killed them on the spot:
The body of the empress was burned on the palace grounds to prevent a future cult around her:
All japanese soldiers returned back Japan. To ease the situation between Korea and Japan a trial started but all were set free because lack of evidence.
After the removal of the empress the korean emperor Gojong showed a much better behavior towards Japan and signed peace treaties and other treaties which granted better relations between Japan and Korea.
I think that could be a solution for the today conflict with North Korea as well. It would save much human life on both sides. We should learn from the past and use sucessful tactics.