december-2011

You can almost imagine King Gojong and
Queen Min strolling along the palace’s
colorful columned walkways and halls.
S EOUL’S GRAND PALACE
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In October 1895, two dozen
Japanese agents stole into the Queen’s
private residence (the fi rst buildings in
Korea to have electric lighting), which
was tucked away in a wooded area at
the rear of Gyeongbokgung. Though
they fought with palace guards, it
is believed that their passage was
assisted by a team of treacherous
offi cials. These sword-wielding
assassins entered Okhoru Pavilion
and, unsure of who their target was,
murdered the women they found. One
was the Queen.
Gojong, who had come to love
Min, locked himself in his chambers
for the remainder of the year and,
unable to focus, signed several
Japanese-sponsored treaties that
gave the aggressive neighbor extra
powers in Korea. He eventually fl ed
Gyeongbokgung for the Russian
diplomatic mission with his son,
Sunjong, in early 1896, never to return.
PHOTO GETTY IMAGES