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| 1892 |
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A revival of interest in the Tonghak (See 1860) emerged in the cause to clear the name of its leader, Ch'oe Che-u, executed on trumped-up charges. There was a mass movement in Samnye, and a larger demonstration (April 1893) in Ch'ungch' ng. | 1 |
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| 1894, Spring |
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| The Tonghak was now a nationwide movement, and it erupted in armed insurrection in southern Korea. | 2 |
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| April 26 |
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| Chn Pong-jun (1853–95), a local Confucian teacher, took control of the larger Tonghak movement. It prevailed in its initial encounters with government forces. | 3 |
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| June 10 |
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| The king, flustered by the military successes of the Tonghak, called upon the Chinese for help. Three thousand men were dispatched, and the Japanese were notified (in accordance with the Convention of Tianjin). Chn agreed the next day to withdraw his forces, in exchange for assurances that the government would institute reforms. | 4 |
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| June 25 |
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| The Japanese sent 8,000 men and occupied Seoul. On the suggestion of the Chinese that both forces be withdrawn, the Japanese insisted first on the introduction of extensive reforms. Confrontation was delayed but a week. | 5 |
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| July 23–1895, April 17 |
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Hostilities in the SINO-JAPANESE WAR broke out when Japan seized the Kyngbok Palace (See July 23–1895, April 17). Korea was obliged to conclude an alliance with Japan (Aug. 26), and the Japanese soon took control over the government, ousting the pro-Min faction with alacrity and forcing reforms on the Korean government. Japan defeated China quickly and soundly. With the tide flowing in Japan's favor, the Tonghak again rose in rebellion, forming a “righteous army” ( ibyng) patterned after the forces formed to fight against Hideyoshi's invasion in the 1590s. Although this rising was the largest peasant uprising in all Korean history, it was quashed by the Korean government's forces and the Japanese, and its leaders were executed. The Treaty of Shimonoseki ended the war, leaving Japan in a much stronger position on the mainland. | 6 |
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| July–1896, Feb |
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| The Kabo reforms, similar to the Meiji reforms, were thrust upon the Korean government by the Japanese. Korea became irrevocably “independent,” abrogating all unequal treaties with China; the Korean king was to be elevated to emperor status; efforts were under way to build Korean nationalist pride through the greater use of han'gl; the government was reorganized into the Japanese cabinet style (Dec. 1894) with a constitutional monarchy; a healthier financial base for the country, with firmer fiscal management, was sought; a modern police force and army were created; the traditional civil service examinations were abolished, and plans were drawn up for a new three-level educational system; a modern independent judiciary was created; and yangban class privilege was abolished, enabling commoners access to service based solely on ability or merit. The Taewn'gun and his followers were fiercely opposed to these reforms. | 7 |
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