Empress Myeongseong aka Queen Min of Korea
Posted by CD | Posted in Asian Affairs, International Politics, Social Issues | Posted on 12-13-2007 | 7 Comments »
On my recent trip to Seoul one can honestly feel a sense of pride and hatred even if one is not Korean in terms of the Japanese occupation and brutal killings of Koreans and how the Koreans never lost hope of gaining back their country. Learning about Korean history in the short time I was there has made me hungry for me. Today’s post is dedicated to Empress Myeongseong who was brutally killed by the Japanese with the help of some Korean officials. Why you ask? Because she advocated stronger ties between Korea and Russia in an attempt to block Japan’s influence in Korea. What a true patriot!
Read more below:
At about 5:30 of October 8, 1895, a group of Japanese military and people in Japanese attires began Operation Fox Hunt, the objective of which was to eliminate the Korean Queen who stood in the way of the Japanese annexation of Korea. The assassins infiltrated the Gyeongbok Palace with little difficulty because the Palace was under Japanese protection. They killed Hong Geh-bong (홍계훈 洪啓薰), the commander of a guard unit, and his men, who blocked the entrance to the palace
King Kojong bitterly protested the Japanese intrusion into his private quarters but he was pushed down by the Japanese. The King’s clothes were torn. The Prince came to his father’s rescue but the young man was thrown on the floor by his hair knot and was beaten with a sword.
Another group of the assassins rushed to the queen’s sleeping area. The palace minister Lee Gyung-sik (李景稙) tried to stop them but he was shot dead and then mutilated her body right in front of King Kojong. The Queen was molested and burned right on the palace ground. The assassins wrapped the dead queen’s body in a blanket and burned it in a nearby bush. This much is on the history books. Newly discovered documents show that the queen was sexually molested before her body was cremated.
At 9:30 am, Maj. Niiro sent a secret cable to the Japanese Army Chief of Staff: the top secret cable read – “Queen dead and King safe.” The cable signaled the successful execution of Operation Fox Hunt. This shows that the order to kill the Queen came from the top.
woh…so does this mean that the king himself has something to do with this? Because on the last paragraph where the message read "Queen dead and King safe" why not kill the king as well? what is the use of keeping him alive?…hm…interesting
Hello,
Thanks for your question. Yes, this is such an interesting part of Korean History, I think there is a drama about this too. In any event, the King had nothing to do with her murder. The King was still needed as a figure head and to maintain some control over the country. The Queen was killed largely in part to her voice and discontent about the Japanese occupation of S. Korea.
From: notifications@intensedebatemail.com
To: xtreme22pa@hotmail.com
Subject: guest commented on Empress Myeongseong aka Queen Min of Korea
Hello,
Thanks for your question. Yes, this is such an interesting part of Korean History, I think there is a drama about this too. In any event, the King had nothing to do with her murder. The King was still needed as a figure head and to maintain some control over the country. The Queen was killed largely in part to her voice and discontent about the Japanese occupation of S. Korea.
Here is the trailer of the video…I found it. [youtube p3B75kPGWHU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3B75kPGWHU youtube]
That is really unhumane
I was watching a movie that depicted part of her life and a man who fell in love with her although they could never be together, so I have no idea if it was based on historical fact, but it seems that women of intelligence and beliefs were feared and therefore had to be killed. However her killing in the manner it was done was to I believe to subdue the king and make him aware that to the Japanese of that time he was no more than a figure head, of whom they had no respect. Sad Sa
Good point. Joyce, I agree with you.
From: notifications@intensedebatemail.com
To: xtreme22pa@hotmail.com
Subject: Today's Talk – New comment on: Empress Myeongseong aka Queen Min of Korea