Kapsin Coup

The Kapsin Coup, also called the Kapsin Revolution, was a failed three-day attempt to change the government in Korea. It took place in 1884 during the Joseon Dynasty. The event was led by a group of reformers known as the Enlightenment Party. These reformers wanted to modernize Korea very quickly. They hoped to make the country truly independent. They specifically wanted to end the heavy influence that China held over Korean affairs.

To understand the coup, one must look at the political tension in Korea. At the time, China treated Korea as a tributary state. This meant China had significant control over Korean decisions. In 1882, a new trade treaty gave Chinese merchants many advantages. China also helped establish the Oeamun, which was the Foreign Office. They also helped create the Naeamun, or the Home Office. A Chinese leader named Yuan Shikai even helped train the Capital Guards Command. King Gojong found he could not appoint diplomats without Chinese approval. This level of control frustrated many Korean citizens.

The Enlightenment Party was made up of young, well-educated Koreans. Most members belonged to the yangban, which was the ruling social class. They were deeply impressed by the rapid modernization occurring in Meiji Japan. The group included leaders like Kim Okkyun, who was 33 years old. Other members were Pak Yŏnghyo, Hong Yeong-sik, Seo Gwang-beom, and Philip Jaisohn. They were very nationalistic. They believed Korea needed to adopt modern systems to protect its sovereignty.

Opposing these reformers was the Min clan and a group called the Sadaedang. The Min clan held great power through Queen Min. She had gained influence by recruiting her relatives to high government positions. The Sadaedang was a conservative faction that wanted to keep things the same. They preferred a policy called "dongdo seogi." This meant adopting Western technology while keeping Eastern values. They wanted gradual changes rather than the radical shifts the Enlightenment Party demanded. This created a deep divide in the royal court.

The coup began on December 4, 1884. The reformers used a banquet as a cover for their plan. Hong Yeong-sik hosted a party to celebrate the new national post office. During the event, the reformers seized the Changdeokgung royal palace in Seoul. They moved King Gojong to the Gyoengu Palace for safety. They also attacked members of the pro-Chinese Sadaedang faction. The Enlightenment Party then announced a radical 14-point reform program. This plan included establishing a constitutional monarchy and creating legal equality for all people.

Despite their goals, the coup failed because of a massive military imbalance. The reformers had only about 140 Japanese troops to support them. In contrast, there were at least 1,500 Chinese soldiers stationed in Seoul. These Chinese troops were under the command of General Yuan Shikai. Queen Min secretly asked for Chinese military help to protect her power. Within three days, the Chinese garrison suppressed the coup. The fighting was intense and resulted in the death of Hong Yeong-sik. The Japanese legation building was also burned down during the conflict.

The aftermath of the coup changed relations between Korea, China, and Japan. The leaders of the Enlightenment Party, including Kim Okkyun, fled to Japan in exile. King Gojong voided all the new reform measures. Japan demanded reparations for the damages caused during the fighting. This led to the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1885. In response to the tension, China and Japan signed the Convention of Tianjin in 1885. Both nations agreed to withdraw their troops from Korea. However, China continued to exert informal domination over Korea until 1894.