AH Challenge: Korea Pulls a Meiji

So, the title kind-of says it all. How can we make Korea have some sort of a Meiji restoration? (And probably conquer Japan :D)
 
So, the title kind-of says it all. How can we make Korea have some sort of a Meiji restoration? (And probably conquer Japan :D)

It is probably possible, there are similarities in the terrain between Korea and Japan - mostly mountainous - so its possible that the Korean peninsula would more mineral rich than the Japanes home islands. A lasting problem, I think, and it is probably similar to events in Southeast Asia, is having China as a next door neighbor. I'm not sure of how the Korean rulers saw themselves in regards to the Imperial Court in Peking.
 
If you keep it free from Russia, China and Japan it would modernise (pulling a meiji is a bit of a overused phrase; Japan wasn't anything special in what it was trying to do, just in it being succesful).

However this is a hard thing.
 
The main problem in this would be Daewongu, he was opposed to modernization so you'd either have to have him never rise to power or be overthrown like the Meiji.
 
The French and US both tried to open Korea up in the 1850's and 1860's, there was some talk of a joint expedition but it came to nothing. Perhaps if there was a Franco-US intervention in Korea forcing the country to trade it might have led to reforms like those of the Meiji. Competition between France and the US might have the effect of helping Korea to maintain its independence (much as Franco-British rivalry helped preserve Siam).
 
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