명성황후 明成皇后
Queen of King Gojong of Joseon, posthumously styled empress of the Korean Empire, killed in the Eulmi Incident, daughter of Min Chi-rok
| Life | 1851 ~ 1895 |
| Era | 조선 후기~대한제국 |
| Clan | 여흥 민씨 |
Life & career
Empress Myeongseong (1851-1895) was the queen of Gojong, 26th king of Joseon and first emperor of the Korean Empire. From Yeoheung, her childhood name was Ja-yeong. A descendant of Min Yu-jung, father of Queen Inhyeon, she was the daughter of Min Chi-rok, who held the post of Sado-si Cheomjeong and was posthumously made Chief State Councillor and Prince Yeoseong, and of Lady Hansan Yi. She is said to have been born at a private house in Seomnak-ri (now Neunghyeon-dong), Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province.
After her father died in 1858 she is said to have grown up with her mother at Gamgodang in Seoul, reading works such as the Sohak, Hyogyeong, Yeohun and history books. She took part in the 1866 queen selection and was chosen at the third round, marrying Gojong that March. In her early years the favor went to Gojong's concubine Gwiin Yi and her son Prince Wanhwa under the Heungseon Daewongun's influence, and in 1871 she lost her first son after five days. She then allied with Queen Dowager Jo's faction and Choe Ik-hyeon, among others, to push the Daewongun out in 1873 and bring Gojong's personal rule.
After the king took direct rule, the Min family, such as Min Seung-ho, Min Tae-ho and Min Yeong-ik, led the government and in-law politics revived. She fled the palace during the 1882 Imo Mutiny and took refuge at Janghowon; she then relied on Qing support, and after Qing lost the 1894 war she turned toward Russia to check Japan. Japan saw this as a threat, and on October 8, 1895, soldiers and ruffians under a plan of Japanese minister Miura Goro entered Geoncheonggung in Gyeongbokgung and killed the queen, an event known as the Eulmi Incident. After the Korean Empire was proclaimed in 1897 she was posthumously styled empress with the title Myeongseong, and her tomb is Hongneung. Scholars still disagree over her stance toward reform, whether she was pro-Qing or pro-Russian, and her in-law politics.
Selection and the Daewongun
She was chosen queen at a young age in 1866. Some accounts say that her lack of brothers favored her selection, but assessments differ among sources.
Imo Mutiny and Diplomacy
She escaped the 1882 Imo Mutiny and returned after Qing troops intervened. Relatives such as Min Yeong-ik were at the center of the government then.
The Eulmi Incident
On October 8, 1895 she was killed by Japanese soldiers and ruffians at Gonnyeonghap in Geoncheonggung, Gyeongbokgung; the site has since been restored.
Grave
Her tomb is Hongneung, in the Hongyureung complex in Geumgok-dong, Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, together with Gojong; a state funeral is said to have been held in 1897 under the Korean Empire.
Descendants
Her son Sunjong became the second emperor of the Korean Empire; Sunjong's first consort, Empress Sunmyeong, was also a Yeoheung Min.