| |
| 1884, Dec. 4–6 |
| |
In the coup d'état of 1884, the Reform Party, supported by the Japanese, hatched a conspiracy to oust Chinese influence from the peninsula while China was distracted by a war with France during that year. A number of ministers were killed, and the king was seized. The Chinese thereupon dispatched troops to Seoul, recaptured the king and the palace, but provoked further intervention by the Japanese. The reformers also wanted the Taew n'gun returned home, all yangban privilege abrogated, and power recentralized. The reformist clique of Kim Ok-kyun (1851–94) and others escaped with the fleeing Japanese. China and Japan stood on the edge of warfare, which was averted for the time being. | 1 |
| |
| 1885, April 18 |
| |
The Sino-Japanese confrontation was eased by the Convention of Tianjin between Li Hongzhang and It Hirobumi (1841–1909). Both agreed to withdraw their troops and to notify each other if it became necessary to intervene in the future. | 2 |
| |
| April 26 |
| |
| The British occupied Port Hamilton (Kmun Island) in the course of the Anglo-Russian crisis, for fear that Russia might seize a port on the Korean coast. In spite of Chinese protests, the British remained until Feb. 27, 1887. | 3 |
| |
| Oct |
| |
| Yuan Shikai was named Director–General Resident in Korea for Diplomatic and Commercial Relations, and he worked to enhance Chinese influence in Korea. | 4 |
| Gradually, Queen Min's clique was growing stronger, and corruption and abuse of privilege was expanding rapidly. As the state needed more money to meet the demands of reform, many of its sources were disappearing through embezzlement. Ultimately, the taxation burden fell on the already suffering peasantry. Japanese economic inroads into Korean commerce were growing by leaps and bounds. | 5 |
| |
| |
