Kim Okgyun
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Kim Ok-gyun (1851-1894) a reformist (Gaehwa-pa 개화파) and activist during the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He served in the national civil service under King Gojong, actively advancing Western ideas and sciences in Korea. The reform movement sought to develop Korea's government, technology, and military using Japanese resources. They intended to help Korea become stable enough in time to withstand increasing Japanese Imperialism. Kim, assassinated in Shanghai, received the posthumous title "Chungdal."
Early life
Born to Kim Byung-tae and his wife on 1851 in Chungcheongnam-do, Kim's family lived in poverty. At the age of four, they moved to Chun-an. His father opened a Sau-dang, or Korean grammar school, in which Kim studied. At six, Kim Byung-gye, desperate to secure the continuation of his family lineage after his son died, adopted him. For four years, Kim stayed in Seoul. When Kim Byung-gye received the appointment of governor in Kang-reung state in spring of 1861, they moved again. At age fifteen, Kim Byunggye assumed the position of "Bup-moo-boo Cha-gwan" in the judicial office, his family returning to Seoul. Kim learned and competed with sons of other aristocratic families. He displayed his talents in playing the Kayakem, singing and dancing, poetry, calligraphy, and art. His fame and talents eventually reached the imperial palace, and "Daebi," or the mother of the king, invited him.
At the age of twenty two, Kim took the national civil service exam, ranking "Jang-won Geub-jae" (level 6), an amazing accomplishment. Usually a candidate required about ten years to achieve that status). To avoid the possible negative impacts of the internal political conflicts that could result on his adopted son, Kim Byunggye retired from his position.
Revolutionary efforts
At about that time, Daewongun, who had implemented policies to avoid contacts with the West then for ten years, lost political power. As trade and diplomatic relations with the West began, the situation in the Joseon court worsened. Kim began to meddle in the internal conflicts in the palace.
Dongnipdang
Kim supported a progressive approach to the West as a strategy of enabling Korea to adopt Western ideals, knowledge, and technology. He hoped that Korea would strengthen, enabling the resistence of imperialistic powers like Japan and Russia. During his national civil service, Kim found many others who agreed with him, and they formed the Dongnidang, or "Independence Party."
Among their various contacts, the group met a Buddhist monk at Bong-won Sa, who showed them a European projector that displayed different photographs of the West, such as the streets of London and a Portuguese soldier. He also showed a Japanese book that contained scenes of foreign nations. The activists asked the monk to obtain more Western artifacts for them. The monk spent two months journeying to and from Japan bringing more Western products. They kept the items hidden as the Conservative Party banned them from Korea.
First plan
After the conflict with the Japanese navy and implementation of the Treaty of Ganghwa, which Kim was against, Kim realized that Japan, once thought to be a barbaric nation, had westernized and became a much stronger country. Therefore, Kim wished to visit Japan to learn how the Japanese had westernized. In November 1881, Kim was granted permission to visit Japan under the mission of finding out whether Japan was planning to invade Korea. After arriving in Tokyo, he met with various influential Japanese politicians during his stay. He concluded that for now Japan would not invade Korea because its military strength was not comparable to Qing China. Kim felt that in order to ensure survival when China was in decline, Korea would have to borrow Japanese help to modernize itself.
In July of 1882, Korea made another ultimately disadvantageous pact with Japan, in which Korea was to pay for hosting the Japanese embassy and which allowed the Japanese army to stay in Korea to protect the embassy. Kim saw that the only solution to the situation was to introduce a new political force to wipe out the present dominant party. In August of the same year, permission to visit Japan as a part of a diplomatic expedition seemed to bring Kim closer to realizing that dream.
After completing diplomatic missions, Kim stayed in Japan purportedly to find out Japan's true intentions towards Korea. His real purpose, however, was to gather resources for future Gae-Hwa-Pa activist campaigns.
During his stay in Japan, he sought assistance, and Japanese statesman Inoue Kaoru promised him 3,000,000 Won (Korean currency) if granted permission from the Korean Emperor Gojong. Unfortunately, conflicts with a German ambassador and a change in Japanese policy on Korea caused Inoue to break his promise. Kim returned home in March 1884 without having attained his goal.
Second plan: Gapsinjeongbyeon
The Gae-Hwa-Pa activists continued to meet at Kim's private house and discuss the ongoing events concerning East Asia and the international politics. In a feast offered by Kim for the members of the Ming Yaung-Ik political faction, Japanese government officials including Inou, and several of the Gae-Hwa-Pa activists. Under uncomfortable atmospheres, the discussions soon led to the Sino-French War. The Ming Yaung-Ik faction fiercely supported Qing China (which would also ensure the survival of Korea), and Japan fiercely supported France (which would allow Japan to overtake Korea). The meeting broke up as Kim and others tried to stop the heated exchanges of debate. From this meeting, Kim could clearly predict that Japan would try to take advantage of the Sino-French War by extending its influence on Korea.
Clandestinely, Kim visited the Japanese embassy after the feast. During a discussion with Simamura, Kim questioned Japan's stance for the Gae-Hwa-Pa and complained about the incident with Inou. Simamura explained that the Japanese still support the movement, and that the internal conflicts and misunderstandings contributed to the ill relationship for Kim with Inoue. He added that the Sino-French War was a great chance for spurring another movement, to which the Japanese government would definitely respond to.
In a meeting of the Gae-Hwa-Pa activists and Japanese supporters, Kim outlined a plan for the revolution. It consisted of the assassinations of certain political figures, and creating a major chaos on the day of the reception for the founding of "Woo-Jung-Gook" (우정국), office for international postal service. They would select potential enemies as scapegoats to whom the blame would rest. The Japanese embassy strongly pledged their active military support to this plan.
On the night of December 4th 1884, near the "Woo-Jung-Gook" reception, a fire occurred. While the activists created chaos with explosives and gunshots, the assassins proceeded in their murders. Over the night, the Gae-Hwa-Pa became the prevailing party in the government.
Chinese interference
The truths behind the Gapsinjeongbyeon incident were leaked to the queen, and the plans of the Gae-Hwa-Pa threatened her political rights. Therefore, the queen secretly requested the Chinese military for their presence. The Korean and Japanese soldiers fought against the outnumbering Chinese army, but were forced to retreat. With the predominance of the Chinese army, the Gae-Hwa-Pa activists lost power to the Sa-De-Dang party, and their lives were threatened. The Gae-Hwa-Pa activists headed toward the city port of Jemulpo (Incheon) under the escort of the Japanese ambassador Takejo, and boarded a Japanese ship, Sensei. When there was a request to the Japanese ambassador Takejo to hand over the activists, he yielded; the Japanese captain Sujikas scolded Takejo and prohibited their release. Because Korean name would be unfit for living in Japan, the captain gave Kim a new name, Itawa Sujaku. Later, other activists fled to the US, and Kim Okgyun led a life of mistreatment under the watch of the Japanese government. During his stay, he earned much respect from the Japanese young adults and gained adherents, such as Wada.
There had been many failed attempts to assassinate Kim. When Li Hongzhang (李鴻章) sent Kim letters of invitation to meet with him, Kim could not refuse. Before departing Kim gave his personal diaries to Koyama, one of his close Japanese friends, in case something should happen to him. Kim then boarded the Japanese ship Seike with Wada, and headed to Shanghai. During this journey Kim Okgyun was assassinated by a gunman.
Bibliography
- http://www.asan.go.kr/eng/art/sub_04_08_03.asp
- Woong-jin Wee-in-jun-gi #19 Kim Okgyun by Baek Suk-gi. (C) 1996 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd.
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