Between 5:50 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. on 8 October 1895, Queen Min (later "Empress Myeongseong"), the wife of King Gojong of Joseon, was assassinated by a group of Japanese agents under Miura Gorō. This incident is known in Korea as the Eulmi Incident (). The attack happened at Okhoru () in , which was the rear private royal residence (the king's quarters) inside the palace Gyeongbokgung.
The queen had been assertive and wielded a great amount of political power in Korea. Soon before her death, she aligned Korea with the Russian Empire, in order to counterbalance Japanese influence on the peninsula. This drew the ire of Japan.
The agents were let into the palace by pro-Japanese Korean guards. Once inside, they beat and threatened other members of the Royal Family during their search for the Queen. The Crown Princess was dragged down stairs and beaten. When the Queen was eventually located, she was beaten and killed with a single slash from a sword. Some agents then proceeded to loot the palace, while others stripped her body and examined her genitals. They then covered her corpse in oil and burned it.
The attack has been characterized by modern historians of Japan as "brutal" and "barbaric"; these sentiments were shared by contemporary international and domestic observers. The assassination had been intended to strengthen Japan's position in Korea, but it offered little benefit; its brutality even temporarily harmed Japan's international image. The attack also resulted in Gojong seeking refuge in the Russian legation in Seoul the following year.
Background
In the immediate run-up to her death, the queen consort had allied herself with Russian interests to counterbalance Japanese influence. She was perceived by the Japanese as an important hostile target.
In 1895, Japanese officials in Korea were plotting the removal of Gojong's wife, Empress Myeongseong. Miura Gorō, Inoue Kaoru's successor as Japanese advisor to the Korean government, and Sugimura Fukashi, a secretary of the Japanese legation, planned the attempt. The two decided to involve the Daewongun in the plot, and after making inquiries, learned that he was "indignant enough to plan a coup" and would cooperate with them.
Description
In the early hours of 8 October, the assassination was carried out by Heungseon Daewongun's guide, which was in conflict with Empress Myeongseong. Japanese agents under Miura Gorō carried out the assassination. Miura had orchestrated this incident with , , , , , , and over fifty other Japanese men. Said to have collaborated in this were the pro-Japanese officers Major and Major both battalion commanders in the Hullyeondae, a Japanese-trained regiment of the Royal Guards.
Surrounding the palace
It was around midnight when the Japanese ronin led by Okamoto arrived at Gongdeok-ri, but it was around 3 am when Heungseon Daewongun left on Gyo-yeo. Daewongun was sleeping without knowing that they were coming. The Japanese climbed over the wall, captured and imprisoned all the villa inspectors, took their clothes, and had Japanese police officers put them on, in an attempt to disguise themselves as Joseon soldiers. After a long struggle, Daewongun left the house, and it is believed that the Japanese took him out by force. There are claims that it is difficult to believe that the 76-year-old Daewongun participated in the assassination.
When the group reached Seodaemun, they were joined by the 2nd Training Battalion led by Woo Beom-seon. They didn't know until then that they were assassinating the Empress. After a while, the 1st company of the Japanese garrison, consisting of about 140 people who had misunderstood the gathering place and had gone to the wrong place, arrived. Here again time was delayed. At this time, the 3rd company of the Japanese garrison was waiting near Gwanghwamun at Gyeongbokgung Palace, and the commander of the 2nd company of the garrison led the 2nd battalion of the training unit and gathered near Chunsaengmun (Northeast Gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace).