Gojong the Great (An Alternate East Asia)

Gojong the Great (Hangul: 고종; Hanja: 高宗; RR: 'Gojong'; MR: 'Kojong'), the Emperor Gwangmu (Hangul: 광무제; Hanja: 光武帝; RR: 'Gwangmuje'; MR: 'Kwangmuje'; 8 September 1852 – 21 January 1919), was the twenty-sixth king of the Joseon dynasty and the first Emperor of Korea.

Gojong was a distant descendant of King Injo (r.1623-1649). When Gojong was born in 1852, Korea was an isolated, feudal, medieval vassal state dominated by faction court politics spearheaded by the Andong Kim clan. Through a number of successful wars, he expanded Joseon Kingdom into a much larger empire that became a major East Asian power and also laid the groundwork for the Korean military after capturing ports at Azov and the Baltic Sea. He spearheaded numerous reforms that laid the fundamental background for future Korean development by building infrastructure, reforming the economy and creating the nucleus of the modern bureaucracy and military with several key alliances around the world. By the time of his death in 1919, Korea was transformed into a world power with a modern rapidly growing industrial base, modern infrastructure in railroads and ports, and a fully modern military. Gojong's reforms made a lasting impact on Korea, and many institutions of Korean government trace their origins to his reign. He was also an inspiration for most developmental dictators of the 20th century.

Health
His physical appearance was described by Angus Hamilton in 1904 as "his majesty is somewhat tall. Approaching five feet eleven inches in height." Hamilton also described him as "stocky sturdy strong build with a somewhat rotund torso." He was said to have had occasional breathing problems as a child hopefully cured with herbal Korean medicine. But he adopted a rigorous energetic lifestyle that soon caused asthma to gradually dissipate. While he was somewhat susceptiable to health problems caused by a weakened immune system from some minor inbreeding in the Joseon line.

Personality and Characteristics
Angus Hamilton described Gojong as "His face is pleasant, impassive in repose, brightening with an engaging smile when in conversation. His voice is soft and pleasant to the ear when speaking to him personally, but has a commanding voice when addressing a crowd or when angry.  He talks with assertiveness, easy assurance, vivacity, and limitless energy." He was described as endlessly curious and energetic, he loved to learn and read and would sometimes read up to 500 pages a day. He also had a tireless work ethic to match his energetic nature waking up as early as 4 am and working as late as midnight. He was tirelessly reading up on government finances, passing decrees, proposing projects. He demanded the utmost loyalty and obedience out of his courtiers and government officials. If anyone of them stood out of line he had them severely publicly beaten. If any of them challenged his authority, he had them killed. He was also known for his love of children and outgoing nature. Many in the Royal Courts thought he was a radical tyrant but no one would ever say it to his face.

Family

 * Father: Yi Ha-Eung, Grand Internal Prince Heungseon (21 December 1820 – 22 February 1898) (이하응 흥선대원군)
 * Grandfather: Yi Gu, Prince Namyeon (22 August 1788 – 19 March 1836) (이구 남연군)
 * Grandmother: Princess Consort Min of the Yeoheung Min clan (26 June 1788 – 1831) (군부인 여흥민씨)
 * Mother: Grand Internal Princess Consort Sunmok of the Yeoheung Min clan (3 February 1818 – 8 January 1898) (순목대원비 민씨)
 * Grandfather: Min Chi-Gu (1795 – 14 December 1874) (민치구)
 * Grandmother: Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan (? – 17 November 1873) (전주 이씨)
 * Consorts and their Respective Issue(s):
 * 1) Empress Myeongseong of the Yeoheung Min clan (19 October 1851 – 21 October 1931) (명성황후 민씨)
 * 2) Jongyul (1871-1872)
 * 3) Jungsook (1873)
 * 4) Sunjong (25 March 1874 - 24 April 1926)
 * 5) Sungil (1875-1876)
 * 6) Yuljong (30 March 1877 - 15 August 1965)
 * 7) Seonwa (25 May 1879 - 4 July 1930)
 * 8) Deokhye (10 July 1880 - 7 February 1943)
 * 9) Jangsoon (1882-1883)
 * 10) Gwiin (13 June 1882 - 7 February 1943)
 * 11) Gangwin (14 November 1884 - 26 October 1967)
 * 12) Chuksong (13 July 1887 - 1 April 1970)
 * 13) Junmin (1890-1892)
 * 14) Eunmin (25 October 1897 - 1 May 1980)

Titles

 * The Lord Yi Myeong-bok, second son of Prince Heungseon, a great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandson of Injo (1852–1864)
 * His Royal Highness King Gojong of Korea (1864–1884)
 * His Majesty King Gojong Of Korea (1884-1892)
 * His Imperial Majesty Emperor Gwangmu of Korea (1892-1919)

Honors
National
 * Founder and Sovereign of the Grand Order of the Golden Ruler – 17 April 1893
 * Founder and Sovereign of the Grand Order of the Auspicious Stars – 17 April 1893
 * Founder and Sovereign of the Grand Order of the Plum Blossoms – 17 April 1893
 * Founder and Sovereign of the Order of the National Crest – 17 April 1894
 * Founder and Sovereign of the Order of the Purple Falcon – 16 April 1894
 * Founder and Sovereign of the Order of the Eight Trigrams – 16 April 1894
 * Grand Order of the Auspicious Phoenix, Grand Cordon – 1900

Foreign

 * Italy: Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, Grand Cross – 23 July 1892
 * France: Legion d'Honneur, Grand Cross – 23 July 1892
 * Japan: Order of the Chrysanthemum, Collar – 8 April 1894
 * United Kingdom: Order of the Indian Empire, Grand Commander – 1895
 * Spain: Order of Charles III, Grand Cross with Collar – 1895
 * Belgium: Royal Order of Leopold, Grand Cordon – 23 March 1896
 * China: Order of the Double Dragon, Class I Grade I – 1 December 1898
 * Russia: Order of St. Stanislaus, Knight – 1 December 1898
 * Denmark: Order of the Elephant, Knight – 31 August 1898
 * Germany: Order of the Black Eagle, Knight – 20 March 1899

During the Joseon Dynasty

 * 1) Gaeguk: used for the reign of King Gojong 1864 – 1892)

During the Korean Empire[edit]

 * 1) Gwangmu (광무; 光武; "Bright Valour") – used for the reign of Emperor Gojong, 1892–1919

Legacy
He is the key figurehead credited with almost singlehandedly spearheading the rapid modernizations of Korea beginning in 1870 up until his death almost half a century later.