Gabo Reforms

The disarray and blatant corruption in the Korean government, particularly in the three main areas of revenues, land tax, military service and the state granary system weighed heavily on the Korean peasantry which represented 90% of the population and was uniformly illiterate.

Yangban families, formerly well-respected for their status as a noble class, were increasingly seen as little more than commoners who were unwilling to meet their responsibilities to their communities. Despite the government abolishing slavery and burning the records in 1801, increasing numbers of peasants and farmers become involved in mutual assistance associations. Institutions such as the Catholic and Protestant missions, with the egalitarian nature of their teachings garnered followings among the Yangban, though commonly in the more urban areas

The outbreak of the Donghak Peasant Revolution in 1894 provided a seminal pretext for direct military intervention by Japan in the affairs of Korea. Seeking redress of long-standing hardship and corruption disparate factions among the Korean peasant population coalesced into a militant force and revolted against the Korean administration. In April, 1894 the Korean government asked for Chinese assistance in ending the Donghak Peasant Revolt. In response Japanese leaders, citing a violation of Convention of Tientsin as a pretext, decided upon military intervention to challenge China. China requested Japan withdraw her troops, Japan refused and proposed that the Qing and Japan co-ordinate to reform the Korean government. The Qing refused. On May 3, 1894, 1,500 Qing Dynasty forces appeared in Incheon. The same day, 6,000 Japanese forces also landed in Incheon leading to the Sino-Japanese War.
The Gabo Reform describes a series of sweeping reforms suggested to Joseon dynasty in response to the Donghak Peasant Revolution.

The first reforms took place from July to October 1894, based on the original reform bill presented by Japanese ambassador that had been previously refused by the Joseon court and Qing dynasty. Two-hundred and ten articles were established, most notably the restructuring of central government by greatly reducing the king's responsibilities and placing more power in the State Council of Joseon. The national civil service examination system was abolished and replaced by a Japanese bureaucratic system. The administration of financial affairs were centralized, the taxation system redressed, a new monetary system allowed the use of Japanese currency, and the measurement system was changed to that of Japan's. Other social reforms were addressed as well; discrimination based on the class system, slavery, underage marriages were all banned and widows were granted the right to remarry. These reforms would legally change the traditional feudal system that had been followed for hundreds of years.

The second state of reform took place from December 1894 to July 1895. Japan closed down the Deliberative Council in December 1894 as the outcome of the Sino-Japanese War was leaning to their favor and set up a new coalition cabinet. New financial bureaus were installed throughout the nation to overlook tax affairs, military and police systems were rehauled and modernized, judicial systems were changed with new courthouse and judiciary laws. The Japanese minister to Korea, Miura Goro, orchestrated a plot against 43-year-old Empress Myeongseong, and on 8 October 1895, she was assassinated by Japanese agents.

On 11 February 1896, King Gojong and the crown prince moved from Gyeongbokgung palace to the Russian legation, from where they governed for about one year, an event known as the Korea royal refuge at the Russian Legation. After returning to the royal palace, the royal family was still guarded by Russian guards. Spurred greatly by the assassination of the queen and subsequent unrest, the Joseon government, then led by a new progressive cabinet headed by Kim Hongjip and Yu Giljun cabinet, carried out reforms from October 1895 to February 1896. A special reform body, Deliberative Council, was created to establish rules. Their policies resulted in the official discarding of the lunar calendar in favor of the modern Gregorian solar calendar, the official designation of era names independent of the Chinese tradition, the creation of a postal service, the introduction of primary schools and a new educational system and the renewal of the military system.

The most controversial reform at this time was the proclamation of the "Short Hair Act, i.e. cutting off the traditional Korean male Sangtu or Topnot, and reformation of traditional attire. It triggered many protests among the people, most notably the conservative scholars, who were already disillusioned by the pro-Japanese cabinet. They had created the army and had actively protested nationwide; protests which escalated after the assassination of Empress Myeongseong in 1895 and a royal refuge. This opposition resulted in the murders of Kim Hongjip and other cabinet members, and the reformations came to an end.