Empress Myeongseong

Myeongseong (1851–1895) was born in Yeoju into the Yeoheung Min family, a daughter of Min Chirok. She became the queen of Gojong, ruler of Korea’s Joseon monarchy, in 1866. When Gojong began governing personally in 1873, her relatives gained influence in court administration. Marriage, kinship and access to the king gave her political resources, while rivalry with his father, the Daewongun, divided the royal household. [S01]

Her position remained vulnerable to military revolt and reform struggles. She escaped the 1882 soldiers’ mutiny and returned after Qing intervention; the 1884 reform coup again threatened the court. Qing assistance helped preserve the monarchy but also increased outside influence. Japanese troops attacked the palace in 1894. After Japan’s victory over Qing China and the subsequent intervention by Russia, France and Germany, she sought closer Russian support to counter Japanese pressure. [S01, S02]

On 8 October 1895 she was killed in a Japanese-led palace attack organized by Japan’s minister Miura Gorō; her body was burned. She died as a queen. Gojong’s establishment of the Korean Empire in 1897 brought her the posthumous title Empress Myeongseong. Her court politics involved patronage and factional conflict as well as efforts to defend royal authority. The assassination exposed the force foreign representatives could bring into Korea’s royal household to eliminate an influential participant in court government. [S01, S02]