The Spirit of Independence: A Primer of Korean Modernization and Reform

42. Korea in 1894 –1895

42. Korea in 1894 –1895 Korea had long been unable to break away from the mentality of reliance on China—until the war of 1894 –1895. After the end of the war, the officials and the people alike completely discarded the old idea of only relying on someone else. The reforms (kyŏngjang) thus began . The six boards [that corresponded to cabinet ministries] were replaced by ten departments (amun).69 Sinecures were eliminated to save expenditures, while tax assessments were equitably rearranged to prevent arbitrary increases or decreases. Policemen were hired to provide better security. The [old] civil service examination system (kwagŏ) was abolished and talented persons were recruited [without regard to birth or family ties]. In the capital and the countryside, judicial courts were established and [a defendant] could be punished only after [his guilt] was clearly substantiated by depositions and confessions. The deplorable practice of killing [prisoners] in the “left” and “right” police bureaus without bothering to establish the charges against them stopped. The evil practice of private extortion by the families of royal relatives and nobility in and outside the capital was also stopped. Many other old practices were eliminated. The most notable among the government proclamations to the public dealt with the recruitment of talented persons without regard to their family statuses, equal treatment irrespective of partisan affiliation (sasek), permission to remarry for widows, and a ban on the keeping, selling, or buying of slaves. Elementary schools were established in the cities and the countryside and the people were encouraged to educate their children . Innumerable bad practices were daily reduced and fresh air was moving in, nurturing greatly the potential for civilization and progress. 198 Those who had knowledge of the world were appointed ministers in charge of various departments; most of them had toured abroad and had exerted themselves to study. They were now each made responsible for certain aspects of governmental power and worked diligently, while the conservative ministers [of the past period] exited without leaving a trace. The framework for reforms was in place, winning unrestrained praise from foreign countries who reportedly had no doubt that [Korea] would become a new civilized nation within several years if the momentum [for reform] continued without rest. In December of the year [1894], his majesty repaired to the royal ancestral shrine and made the following pledge: On the twelfth day of December in the 503rd year since the founding of the nation, We respectfully state before the spirits of Our sage progenitors that We inherited the immense task at a young age and, for thirty-one years, have endeavored—with reverence for Heaven—to emulate them. There were difficulties on many occasions; however, the task has not been abandoned. That was not due to Our effort: Rather it was due to the aid from the spirits of Our progenitors who have laid the foundation and have looked after their descendants for 503 years. During Our reign, circumstances have changed greatly and there is more light and openness in the world. With a neighboring nation’s sincere advice, and with consensus in the court, freedom and independence have been proclaimed and We intend to establish our sovereignty firmly. We dare not betray Heaven and fail in preserving the legacies of the ancestors, nor fall short of demonstrating the great deeds of Our sage ancestors by devoting Our full energy and attention. From now on, We shall not depend on another nation; We shall build our wealth and strength; We shall lead the people to blessed happiness and We shall strengthen the foundation of the rights to freedom and independence. In order to accomplish these objectives, We shall not cling onto things that are old, nor shall We seek only comfort . We shall expand the legacies left by the royal ancestors, while political affairs shall be reformed in light of the situation in the world to rectify all past [evil] practices. We, your humble descendants, pledge before you and vow to achieve, with your assistance, the following fourteen items without fail. We pray that your divine spirits be with us. • To forsake the idea of relying on China and establish firmly the foundation for freedom and independence; • To codify the rules for the royal family and clarify the rules for succession and the distinction between royal blood relatives and in-laws; Korea in 1894 –1895 199 • The king shall be in the main...