Battle of Ugeumchi

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Ugeumchi


caption=
partof=Donghak Peasant Revolution
date=November 1894
place=Ugeumchi, Gongju, Korea
result=Decisive Japanese victory
combatant1=Donghak Peasant Army
combatant2=Japanese Imperial Army Joseon Army
commander1=Jeon Bong-jun Son Byeong-hui
commander2=Captain Moriya
strength1=Tens of thousand Donghak peasants
strength2=One company of Japanese army Hundreds of Joseon Army
casualties1= 500 survived
casualties2= minimal|The Battle of Ugeumchi was a decisive battle during the Donghak Peasant Revolution. Fought between the Donghak Korean peasants and the combined Japanese-Joseon Army, it resulted in the decline of the Donghak Rebellion and the growth of Japanese Imperialism in Korea.

Background

As the Korean government had difficulty in suppressing the Donghak movement, an emissary was sent to Qing empire to request an immediate troop dispatch. The Qing court replied by sending the necessary soldiers, yet Japan also sent troops on the pretext of protecting of Japanese citizens in Korea. As the Chinese and Japanese armies poured into the peninsula, Jeon Bong-jun, the leader of Donghak peasants, rallied the Korean peasants and led them to once rebel against the Joseon court and drive out the foreign "devils."

The battle

On early stage of the fighting, the peasant force gained early successes against the Joseon army, yet had to retire when the Japanese troops arrived to reinforce the government force. When the Donghak army advanced the second time, the Japanese, armed with the more modern rifles and cannons, easily defeated peasants who were armed only with bamboo spears and outdated matchlocks. As the peasant casualites mounted, Jeon ordered a retreat and the Donghak army scattered.

Aftermath

After the battle, Donghak peasants lost most of their power and were soon suppressed. The Japanese quickly grew in power in Korea and had more influence on the Joseon court than before the battle. Jeon Bong-jun ran to Sunchang to regroup and rally another army, yet his followers betrayed Jeon and had him arrested in December 12, 1894. He sent to Seoul and hanged.

ee Also

* Donghak Peasant Revolution
* First Sino-Japanese war
* Jeon Bong-jun

References

* 한국민족문화대사전 (Ethnic Korean Culture Dictionary)
* [http://donghak.jeongeup.go.kr/index.html 동학농민혁명]
* [http://donghak.jeongeup.go.kr/eng/index.html Site of Donghak Peasant Revolution]