Battle of Ugeumchi | |||||||
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Part of Donghak Peasant Revolution | |||||||
Painting of the Battle of Ugeumchi | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Donghak Peasant Army | |||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Shin Jeong-hui Heo Jin Yi Du-hwang Yi Gyu-tae Yi Gi-dong Jo Byeong-hwan Minami Morio Masaichi |
Jeon Bong-jun Son Byeong-hui | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
3,000 Joseon Army
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Approximately 40,000 50 Qing soldiers | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Minimal | 500 remained |
The Battle of Ugeumchi (Korean: 우금치전투; Hanja: 牛金峙戰鬪) took place in the Ugeumchi area, from October 23 to November 11, 1894 (31st year of Emperor Gojong). It was a conflict between different factions, including the Donghak peasant army, the Capital Guards Command (Chingunyeong (친군영)) consisting of the Palace Guards (Gyeongricheong), Royal Escort Palace Guards (Jangwiyeong), and the Metropolitan Guards (Tongwiyeong), and the new well-trained Japanese-style Military Training Division (Hullyeondae), which were the elite forces of the Joseon government equipped with modern weapons and tactics. Despite the overwhelming numerical advantage of the peasant army, they were unable to break through the defensive line of the suppressing forces, who had superior weapons and tactics. The defeat in Ugeumchi led to the rapid disintegration of the peasant army and the loss of momentum in the Donghak Peasant Revolution.[1]