Empress Myeongseong Assassination — Korean and Japanese Perspectives on the Eulmi Incident

On October 8, 1895, approximately 50 Japanese soldiers, ronin, and civilians led by Japanese Minister Miura Goro invaded Gyeongbokgung Palace. They found Empress Myeongseong, murdered her, and burned her body with kerosene to destroy evidence.

This is the Eulmi Incident (을미사변).

Background

Empress Myeongseong (1851-1895) was the queen consort who wielded real political power. Her pro-Russia policy to counter Japanese influence made her "the obstacle to be removed" in Japan's Korea domination strategy.

Korean Perspective

The event is known as the "murder of the national mother" — one of the most humiliating events in Korean modern history. It directly triggered the Eulmi Righteous Army uprising and Gojong's Russian legation refuge.

Divided views on the Empress herself

Positive: Strong female leader who used diplomacy to protect sovereignty.
Negative: Min clan's factional politics, excessive palace spending, focused on power maintenance over people's welfare.

Japanese Perspective

Japanese textbooks barely cover the Eulmi Incident. Most Japanese people don't know it happened. After trial, Miura Goro and 48 associates were acquitted for "insufficient evidence" — viewed by Korea as proof of Japanese government complicity.

Core Issue

This event represents "asymmetry of awareness itself" — Korea's national trauma vs Japan's ignorance. When Koreans say "Japan killed our queen" and Japanese respond "what are you talking about?" — this awareness gap itself is a fundamental problem in Korea-Japan relations.