Successful Gapsin Coup

In December of 1884 a number of pro-Japanese modernizing Koreans launched a coup against the Joseon court.

The Enlightenment Party sought to initiate rapid changes within Korea to open its borders. They sought to eliminate social distinctions, including eliminating the legal privileges of the yangban class.


What if the Gapsin coup had been successful and a modernizing and pro-Japanese Korea had emerged in 1884?
 

ar-pharazon

Banned
This is interesting-maybe Korea becomes more aligned with Japan earlier thus leading to an earlier Sino-Japanese war. If the coup succeeded maybe Korea could modernize quickly enough to stand on its own two feet and not be dominated by Japan. A modernized pro Japanese Korea that isn't a Japanese colony does make the East Asian early 20th century more dynamic.

I could see this precipitating Chinese or Russian intervention.

I'm not sure what the western colonial powers would do maybe if they'd arrange some sort of settlement-maybe they'd support China to weaken Japan. Or maybe something else I admit my knowledge of this period is relatively basic.

I could see this leading to an earlier Russo-Japanese War-if the Russians feel Korea is falling under the Japanese orbit they might seek to intervene and restore their position.

I'm not sure how such a war would go.
 
the reason that japan almost beat china was that thier where in a cival war whit the threat of japan earlier the cival wars might not happen that means a stronger china the Qing would still fall but the goverment after might be stronger
 
The Gapsin Coup occured at the same time as the Sino-French War, raging in the South China Sea. If the coup succeeds but prompts an intervention from China, then I could see Japan joining France in its war against the Qing.
Heck, since China would be facing a two-front war, maybe Russia even joins the dogpile and invades Manchuria.
 
If Japan joins the war alongside France, they likely aren't getting Taiwan as the French wanted the island. If Russia joins the dog-pile they're getting Dalian.

I'm thinking the Japanese get Weihaiwei and Qingdao here.
 
France, Russia, and Germany did intervene to stop Japan from taking the Liaodong Peninsula OTL. I don't think they'll be barging in to partition China. Besides, why would the Qing intervene in Korea when they're getting thrashed by France? Russia would be more likely, honestly.
 
France, Russia, and Germany did intervene to stop Japan from taking the Liaodong Peninsula OTL. I don't think they'll be barging in to partition China. Besides, why would the Qing intervene in Korea when they're getting thrashed by France? Russia would be more likely, honestly.

They already intervened in Korea historically. It was Qing troops who put down the coup.
 
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