Gapsin Coup

Gapsin Coup
DateDecember 4, 1884 – December 6, 1884
Location
Hanyang, Joseon
(present Seoul, South Korea)
Result Coup failed
Belligerents
Radical Gaehwa Party
Supported by:
Empire of Japan Empire of Japan

Extreme conservatives [ko])

Supported by:
Qing
Commanders and leaders
Kim Ok-gyun
Bak Yeonghyo
Seo Jae-pil
Takezoe Shinichiro
King Gojong
Queen Min
Min Yeong-ik
Yuan Shikai
Gapsin Coup
Hangul
갑신정변, 갑신혁명
Hanja
甲申政變, 甲申革命
Revised RomanizationGapsinjeongbyeon, Gapsinhyeongmyeong
McCune–ReischauerKapsinjŏngbyŏn, Kapsinhyŏngmyŏng

The Gapsin Coup,[a] also known as the Gapsin Revolution, was a failed three-day coup d'état that occurred in Korea during 1884. Korean reformers in the Enlightenment Party sought to initiate rapid changes within the country, including eliminating social distinctions by abolishing the legal privileges of the yangban class. The coup d'état attempt, with Japanese support, began on December 4, 1884, with seizure of the royal palace in Seoul and the killing of several members of the pro-Chinese conservative faction. However, the coup was eventually suppressed by a Chinese garrison stationed in the country. Thwarted by the Chinese actions, some of the pro-Japanese faction leaders found exile in Japan. The event led to informal Chinese domination of Korea from 1885 to 1894. Within the Joseon court, Chinese influence grew particularly under the Resident-General Yuan Shikai.
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