Queen Myongson Essays -- Korea Korean Leaders Essays

Queen Myongson (Queen Min) Queen Myongsong was born in 1851 in Yohung Min Chan. After the death of her father, the queen would not be able to build her own political power base in the patriarchal Korean society. At that time, the real power was in the hands of Hungsun Taewongun. Taewongun arranged his son to take Queen Min, whom lacked power and thus would not pose a threat to himself or Kojong. In 1866, at the age 14, Queen Min became wife to Kojong whom assumed power in 1864 at the age of 12. (2) At the time of her marriage, King Kojong's father, Taewongun, ran the country in his son's name. When King Kojong came to power in 1864, his father became the Regent. But the old man stayed on even after King Kojong became old enough to take over. To add insult to injury, Taewongun attempted to designate an illegitimate son of King Kojong the heir to the throne. In 1873, the Queen’s intelligence and cunningness enabled to convince her young husband to declare himself king in fact as well as in name. After throwing out Tawongun, Min placed her relatives in key positions of power and began to dismantle Taewongun's 'hermit' isolationist policy and opened up the country to foreign trades and friendly relations. Encouraged by his wife, King Kojong signed the Kanghwa Treaty with Japan and instituted a series of modernization and reform programs. (6) This created a bloody conflict between Queen Min and her father-in- law. In addition Queen Min had a difficult time giving birth t o a son, who was necessary to continue the royal line. In Korea, a woman could not inherit the throne in her own right. Therefore, having a son was crucial to the success of any queen. Growing impatient with the ... ...Network at Lost Angeles – Queen Min (http://www.gkn-la.net/history_resources/queen_min.htm) 2. QUEEN MIN--GRADE LEVEL: 10-12 AUTHOR: David M. Hanna SUBJECT: Global History, East Asian Civilization (http://www.koreasociety.org/MAIN/KS_LessonPlans/ Lessons/klp_xxix.pdf) 3. Bird, Isabella. Korea and Her Neighbors. London: KPI Limited, 1985 (first published in 1897). (http://kn.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2001/02/10/200102100030.asp) 4. Tourism – Sightseeing (http://english.kg21.net/tour/sightseeingSite.jsseq=19&page=1&caller=category&query=h) 5. [New Horizon] Assassination of Empress Myongsong by Kim Byong-kuk (http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/opinion/200211/kt2002112117172711350.htm) 6. A Brief History of the US-Korea Relations Prior to 1945 by Kim Young-Sik, Ph.D. (http://www.kimsoft.com/2003/us-kr-relation.htm)