KOJONG

died Jan. 21, 1919, Seoul, Korea [now in South Korea] original name Yi H'ui the last real imperial ruler of Korea. Kojong became king of Korea while still a young boy. During the first years of his reign, power was in the hands of his father, Taewon-gun, who as regent attempted to restore and revitalize the country. When Taewon-gun was kidnapped and taken to China in 1882, power passed to Kojong's queen, Min, who opposed all modernization efforts. She was assassinated by the Japanese in 1895. Two years later, in an effort to save the country, Kojong proclaimed himself emperor and changed the name of the country to Taehan (Great Han), actions symbolic of his independence from China. During the Russo-Japanese War of 190405, however, Japan invaded Korea and forced the emperor to sign a treaty allowing the Japanese to use the country as a military base and to place advisers in the government. After the war Japan set up a protectorate in Korea. In 1907, therefore, the king abdicated in favour of his son. Three years later Japan officially annexed Korea.