The Joseon Army of the late 19th century () was the modernized army of the Korean dynasty of Joseon. After the Treaty of Ganghwa, King Gojong and Queen Myeongseong spearheaded the modernization of the armed forces. The army was known for the Donghak Peasant Revolution, its defense of Gyeongbokgung Palace, and defending Queen Min from the Japanese. Despite this, the new modernized army was too weak to defend itself from foreign threats and could not prevent the assassination of Queen Min. Gojong declared Joseon the Empire of Korea and contributed the modernization of the armed forces.
History After opening its ports in 1876, Joseon learned of the world situation. It realized its progress, leading Joseon to promote a progressive movement for 'enlightenment' policies called the Enlightenment Movement (Gaehwaundong). But it took the longest out of all the other modernization projects. In 1880, under King Gojong and his consort Queen Min's joint patronage, they created the Office for Extraordinary State Affairs (Tongnigimu-Amun), consisting of 12 departments charged with diplomacy, trade, finance, and military affairs.
Modernization and the Imo Incident In 1881, Gojong and Min spearheaded the military modernization efforts. Joseon dispatched the so-called Gentlemen's Sightseeing Group to Japan or Courtiers' Observation Mission (Sinsayuramdan). They invited the Japanese Army attaché Lieutenant Horimoto Reizō to serve as an adviser in creating a modern army.War Memorial of Korea The Japanese gave military training to eighty to one hundred young men of the aristocracy, establishing the Special Skills Force (Pyŏlgigun, Korean: 별기군). They also sent a royally appointed advisor (Yeongseonsa) and students to Tianjin to learn about the manufacture of firearms and munitions. In January 1882, the government reorganized the Five Army Camps (ogunyeong) into the Palace Guards Garrison (Muwiyŏng, Korean: 무위영) and the Capital Guards Garrison (Changŏyŏng, Korean: 창어영). However, these units were resentful towards the Special Skills Force for better treatment and equipment. Additionally, the army discharged more than 1,000 soldiers in overhauling the military; most were old or disabled. The army did not pay them in rice for thirteen months leading up to the Imo Incident, which claimed the lives of some Japanese military advisors and their legislation and some Joseon officials. Daewongun returned to power momentarily to restore order. Daewongun dismantled the Muwiyŏng, the Changŏyŏng, and the Pyŏlgigun and revived the Five-Army Camps. In December 1882, after Daewongun's arrest, the government disbanded the Five-Army Camps once more. The Chinese lines under Yuan Shikai reorganized and trained into a new Joseon military formation, the Capital Guards Command (Chingunyeong, Korean: 친군영).
Gojong and Min requested the United States for more American military instructors to speed up the military modernization of Korea. In October 1883, American minister Lucius Foote arrived to take command of the modernization of Joseon's older army units that had not started Westernizing. They established their first military factories and a modern armory (Gigichang) and created new military uniforms in 1884. In April 1888, General William McEntyre Dye and two other military instructors arrived from the United States, followed in May by a fourth instructor. They brought about rapid military development. They established a new military school called and an officers' training program to begin making the armies become more and more on par with the Chinese and the Japanese. After the UK occupied Port Hamilton (Geomun Island) in 1889, the Joseon government took a more effective national defense.
Donghak Peasant Revolution The Joseon Army, as it existed in the early 1890s, consisted of about 3,000–50,000 soldiers at the time of the Donghak Peasant Revolution. In January 1894, the modernized army was deployed against the Donghak Peasant Revolution but lost many battles in the beginning due to their sheer numbers and innovative tactics. When Gojong requested help from the Qing to suppress the rebels, the Japanese sent troops to Seoul, demanding the Joseon Government send the Qing back. The government refused, and Japan stormed Gyeongbokgung. Despite resistance from Capital Guards Command, Japan occupied the palace and established a pro-Japanese government beginning the Gabo Reform and the Sino-Japanese War. As per the Gabo Reform, the government disbanded the Capital Guards Garrison. Japan allied with the Joseon Army and finally suppressed the Donghak rebels in December 1895. The Japanese forced the Qing out of Joseon after winning the war.
Gabo Reform There were about 5,000 soldiers in 1895. During the Gabo reform, the government, under the direction of the Japanese, established the Hullyeondae or the "Military Training Division." They are an elite regiment of royal guards trained and equipped by the Japanese and led by old Korean Army members who hold pro-Japanese sentiments. Gojong of Korea established the Capital Guards (Siwidae (시위대), (侍衛隊)). The minister of the military supervises the training of the Capital Guards. On 8 October 1895, the Japanese convinced the officers of the Hullyeondae that the royal family was seeking help from the Russians and plotted to assassinate Queen Min. One thousand Hullyeondae troops stormed the palace and defeated the Capital Guards, allowing the ronin to assassinate her. As a result, Gojong ordered the deaths of pro-Japanese officials, ending the Gabo Reform. After her death, Gojong disbanded the Military Training Division for their part in the assassination and the Capital Guards in August 1895 for failing to stop the Japanese.
He reorganized them into the Chinwidae, a modernized 1,000-strong royal guard armed with Berdan rifles trained by Russian military advisors beginning in 1896, serving as the core of an improved army. Soldiers sometimes transferred to other units from this core unit, including five regiments of about 900 soldiers each. Gojong organized the provincial armies, the Jibangdae in response to the assassination, and then reorganized them into the Jinwidae, modernized provincial armies in 1897. On that same year, he proclaimed Joseon the Korean Empire dedicated to modernizing the country and the army. When the Joseon Dynasty became the Korean Empire, their numbers grew to 28,000 before 1907.
First Formation Special Skills Force The Pyŏlgigun (Korean: 별기군, "Special Skills Force" or "Special Army") was the first modernised military force of Korea. First conceived in 1876, it was formed in 1881 and trained by Japanese officers led by Horimoto Reijo, military attaché at the Japanese legation. It received better treatment than the old Korean Army, whose soldiers' salaries were in arrears on account of the costs of the Byeolgigun. This led in 1882 to the Imo mutiny, in which soldiers rioted and Horimoto Reizō was killed.
In May 1881, as part of its plan to modernise the country, the Korean government invited the Japanese military attaché, Lieutenant Horimoto Reizō, to serve as an adviser in creating a modern army. From 80 to 100 young men of the aristocracy were to be given Japanese military training and make up the newly formed Special Skills Force.
Palace Guards Garrison Muwiyeong (무위영 (武衛營)) was a military camp established in November 1881 (the 18th year of King Gojong's reign). The existing Five Military Camps (Ogunyeong, 五軍營) were reorganized into two camps: Mu Wi Yeong (武衛營) and Jang Eo Yeong (壯禦營). As part of this reform, three of the original five camps—Hunryeondogam (訓鍊都監), Yonghoyeong (龍虎營), and Howicheong (扈衛廳)—were merged into Mu Wi Yeong.
The military structure historically adhered to a traditional organization, led by a commander-in-chief (Daejang, 大將) who oversaw a central army known as Junggun (中軍). Within this central army were left and right divisions (Jwabyeolgun, 左別軍 & Ubyeolgun, 右別軍), with subordinate officers (Chogwan, 哨官) under their command. Notable changes included the renaming of several military titles, such as “Nangcheong (郎廳)” to “Gunsaek (軍色),” “Jongsagwan (從事官)” to “Hyangsaek (餉色),” “Jwabyeoljjang (左別將)” to “Geumgun Byeoljjang (禁軍別將),” and “Ubyeoljjang (右別將)” to “Seongi Byeoljjang (善騎別將).” Additionally, Mu Wi Yeong represented a continuation of Mu Wi So (武衛所), which was established in April 1874, serving as an elite royal guard and a protection force for the palace.
However, in 1882, Mu Wi Yeong was abolished by Heungseon Daewongun (흥선대원군).
Capital Guards Garrison Jangeoyeong (장어영 (壯禦營)) was a military camp in November 1881, during the 18th year of King Gojong’s reign. It was established as part of a reorganization of the Five Military Camps (Ogunyeong, 五軍營) into two camps (Yangyeong, 兩營) to enhance military command efficiency, soldier training, and equipment management. This reform merged three of the original camps—Chongyungcheong (摠戎廳), Eoyeongcheong (御營廳), and Geumwiyeong (禁衛營). Shin Jeong-hui (申正熙) was appointed as the first commander (Jang Eo Daejang, 壯禦大將), and the camp’s administration included one Dojejo (都提調) and two Jejo (提調), with other personnel remaining consistent with those from Chongyungcheong.
The organizational structure adhered to traditional military practices, featuring a commander-in-chief (Daejang, 大將) leading a central army (Junggun, 中軍), supported by left and right divisions (Jwabyeolgun, 左別軍 & Ubyeolgun, 右別軍), each commanded by subordinate officers (Chogwan, 哨官).
Jang Eo Yeong functioned as an elite royal guard unit dedicated to defending the capital, but it was abolished in 1882.
Martial Arts Department The Martial Arts Department (무예청 (武藝廳)) was a division of the Military Training Command, who served as guards for King Seonjo during the Imjin War. It was an organization composed of skilled martial artists who were responsible for guarding the five grand palaces and providing close protection to the king. The officers belonging to the office were specially referred to as Martial Arts Special Guards (무예별감) or simply Martial Guards ("무감", 武監). It was also known as the military officials (mugwan (무관 (武官)).
The establishment process of the Martial Arts Department is detailed in King Sunjo of Joseon's work called Pure Study Records (순제고). The Martial Arts Department selected exceptional individuals with outstanding martial arts skills from the military training center (훈련도감).
After the prohibition on wearing civilian clothing in 1883, all Martial Arts Special Guards were required to wear standard traditional military uniforms and were equipped with modern rifles and hwando (swords). In 1894, the Martial Arts Department disbanded after the Gabo Reforms and the Eulmi Incident as part of the military reforms leading to the establishment of the Imperial Korean Armed Forces.
Capital Guards Command The Chingunyeong (친군영), also known as the Capital Guards Command, was a military unit in Korea that was responsible for protecting the royal family and the capital city. It was the central military system established in Joseon in response to the Imo Rebellion. The Joseon government, seeking measures to strengthen and fortify the capital defense forces after the Imo Rebellion, sought assistance from the Qing Dynasty to train its troops and supply modern weapons.
In November 1882 (the 19th year of King Gojong's reign), a unit trained by Yuan Shikai at the training center was called the 1,000-member Newly Established Capital Left Camp (신건친군좌영), and a unit trained by Zhu Xianmin at the East Separate Camp (동별영) was called the 500-member Capital Right Camp (친군우영).