The assassination attempt of Heungson Daewon'gun

The beauty of Unhyeongung in April 2022. Robert Neff Collection

By Robert Neff

On the morning of June 15, 1892, the residents of Seoul awoke to the booming of thunder. It was a very welcomed sound. One elderly American wrote in her diary, the sky had "every appearance of rain, we all hope it may come." Indeed, many of the farmers were probably praying fervently knowing that a bountiful rain would help ensure a successful harvest, but others, before the end of the evening, would rue the rain ― perhaps curse it ― for it dampened their Machiavellian plans.

Heungson Daewon'gun, the father of the king, had long been a thorn in his son's side. In the recent past, he had been notorious for his plots to undermine his son's authority and was especially nefarious to the queen's whom he considered to be his mortal enemy. However, age had mellowed the elderly man ― he was about 71 years old ― and in recent years he "had remained apparently aloof from the politics, though rumor, in view of his antecedents, often connected his name with suggestive canards."

Throughout the day it rained heavily and many people sought the sanctuaries of their homes. The Daewon'gun was no exception. He invited several of his friends to Unhyeongung (his palace/residence) for a small dinner party, and "all of the household partook freely of wine." It was a very enjoyable evening but it taxed heavily upon the elderly Daewon'gun, who, "being somewhat fatigued, went to bed a little after nine."

It was at about 9:30 when a loud explosion coming from the Daewon'gun's residence shattered the peacefulness of the evening rain. Several officials proceeded thither to make inquiries, but being assured by the gate-porter that nothing had happened, they withdrew." Little could they have imagined of what had transpired behind the closed gate.

A gate of Unhyeongung in April 2022. Robert Neff Collection

According to the Seoul-based correspondent of the Fiji Shimpo (newspaper):

"Shortly after the Prince had retired a loud noise was heard in or near his room, and the servants, rushing thither, found that a part of the building had been completely wrecked. Unable at first to see the Prince, they supposed that he had been killed, but presently he emerged unhurt from the ruins, and gave orders that the rest of the house should be searched. Examination revealed that boxes containing about 13 or 14 lbs. of gunpowder each had been placed in the heating flues under the Prince's bedroom, study, and reception-chamber. These rooms practically constitute the Prince's regular dwelling-place, so it is plain that by exploding the three boxes simultaneously, the plotters expected to kill the [Daewon'gun] without fail. The boxes under the bedroom and reception room did actually explode, but that under the study failed, the fuse having been damped by rain which was falling heavily."

A ground-level view of Unhyeongung in April 2022. Robert Neff Collection

It was surmised that "during the guests' departure someone carried in the powder" and placed it in the flues. It is a very interesting account but, as usual, there are discrepancies ― to begin with, the dates. The Japan Weekly Mail claimed it took place on the 16th but wondered why the news of the assassination attempt did not reach Tokyo until the 23rd ― even though the Japanese representative in Seoul had supposedly sent a telegraph on the 17th, informing his government of what had transpired. Most accounts, however, give the date of the assassination attempts as June 18.

Horace N. Allen, the temporary charge d'affaires at the American legation, sent a confidential report to the State Department ― nearly two weeks after the attempt ― in which he wrote:

"I have the honor, privately to report that for some days a rumor has been current here to the effect that on the night of the 18th June and unsuccessful attempt was made to assassinate the [Daewon'gun] ― father of the king, by means of a package of gunpowder placed under his sleeping room, but which was discovered in time to prevent an explosion."

An inner gate of Unhyeongung in April 2022. Robert Neff Collection

According to Allen, the Japanese minister in Seoul, upon learning of the attempt, had immediately telegraphed his government and requested two warships to be sent to Korea. The Korean king, learning of the Japanese minister's actions, sent a messenger to Allen (and presumably the other Western diplomats) informing him that the report of the assassination attempt "was not credited in the Palace" and the king "feared unpleasant notices might appear in the papers."

The palace was insisting nothing had happened, as if they were trying to brush the failure away. This seems to be supported by the Fiji Shimpo's account which claims that almost immediately after the assassination attempt, the Daewon'gun "reported the particulars to the King, but that neither the latter nor the Queen-Dowager took any notice or sent any massage of condolence."

At the end of his report, Allen wrote…"I may add that the rumor is believed to [illegible] by all the representative and the people." I am guessing the missing words are "be true."

Inside Unhyeongung in April 2022. Robert Neff Collection

Allen wasn't the only one talking about the attempt. Walter Hillier, the British representative to Seoul, paid a visit to Chinese Resident (representative to Seoul) and was informed:

"…in confidence that the story was perfectly true, a dastardly attempt having been made on the night of the 18th instant to blow up the King's father, an old man of 70 years of age, and his wife, who is [the] mother to the King. A quantity of gunpowder was placed under the floor of the old man's sleeping room, the floors of all rooms in this country being heated by flues running underneath them, and it was merely by an accident that he and his wife escaped. They had fortunately moved into another room at the last moment, and though the floor was blown out, the powder was of so poor a description that the damage was confined to the empty chamber."

When Hillier asked what steps had been taken to "discover the perpetrators," the Chinese Resident whispered to him "that the King did not care to enquire, and gave me [Hillier] to understand that the Queen knew what was going to happen and that the plot had been concocted by some members of her family, who are deadly enemies of the King's father and of the party, which he represents."

Not everyone agreed that it was the palace responsible for the failed attempt. The Japan Daily Mail noted that Korea had "opened her gates to the outer world only a dozen years ago, and already her agitators have recourse to dynamite to accomplish their nefarious purposes." The paper suggested that the attempt was assisted by outsiders:

"It is scarcely probable that any Korean laboratory is yet capable of manufacturing bombs and infernal machines, and the evident interference will be that the plotters were in collusion with outsiders."

The courtyard of Unhyeongung in April 2022. Robert Neff Collection

The Fiji Shimpo, however, reported that some of the wild rumors on the street accused the Chinese Resident of having some degree of culpability.

Allen dismissed these claims. He denied dynamite was used and declared "the idea of foreigners being connected with the plot is absurd."

Many people suspected it was the Min family. They enjoyed powerful positions in the government and were despised by a large portion of the population ― they also had a great hatred towards the Daewon'gun. The Fiji Shimpo pointed out that the Min family alleged the assassination attempt "was a plot designed to injure their reputation."

The reputation of the Min family was not that good ― even in the eyes of the Chinese Resident who historically supported it. He denigrated the king for his weak character and extravagant habits and accused him of being "completely in the hand hands of the Queen and her adherents; he was under the influence of the most superstitious fears, which were worked upon by the Queen, at whose suggestion he was moving into another palace; and he was perfectly reckless in his expenditure."

The kingdom's impecuniosity was to blame for this surge of violence. Government officials and soldiers had not received their salaries for several months ― even a year ― even though the king "was selling offices right and left to raise money for his extravagances, which offices [were] invariably secured by members of the Queen's clan or party."

He speculated that if the queen ― whose health was precarious ― died, it would be "the signal for the wholesale murder of the members of her clan."

A closer look at some of the buildings of Unhyeongung in April 2022. Robert Neff Collection

The Chinese Resident was also outraged with the lack of filial piety and "heartless conduct" the Korean king displayed towards his father and mother ― before and after the assassination attempt. The Japan Weekly Mail elaborated on the Korean kingdom's financial straits and its impact on the Daewon'gun.

"The King is pledged to deliver a certain quantity of rice every year to the [Daewon'gun] for the latter's maintenance, but during the past two years the old Prince has been obliged to go without his allowance, owing to the empty state of the Treasury."

It isn't clear who the perpetrators of the bombing were and whether or not they were ever apprehended and punished. For the most part, this incident ― if it really happened ― has been forgotten even by the curator at Unhyeongung.

Of course, if the Min family was responsible, the reason for the assassination attempt might have simply been revenge for the bombing of 1875.

Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books, including Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters.