WI Japan invaded Korea in 1873?

Well...

The top of my head is a bit of a barren place these days, but I will attempt to say something from there...

This is not long after the collapse of the Shogunate and the restoration of the Empire

It is also in the dog days of China's civil wars, but I think by this time the worse are over, and central power is pretty much restored

France is still nursing its sore behind, from its clash with Germany. Britain is a factor not to ignore

A potentially weak Japan now fights Korea which has a restored Imperial China behind it...and Britain on the sidelines ready to intervene if it feels its interests threatened

Plus Russia watching covetously...

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 
Japan at that time was just able to carry out the Taiwan Expedition of 1874. A full scale invasion of Korea would be ASB unless you've got a prior PoD.
 
Quite unlikely I'm afraid.
Japan took over Korea when it did because it won the Russo-Japanese war and was able to establish a protectorate over Korea. Add into Chinese being in a mess at the time and the way is clear.

The seikanron working out different....Japan wouldn't do well. China would perhaps defend Korea or maybe Russia would play its cards in the area early.

Japanese-Korean relations are weird. Its not for any gain that Japan attacks Korea its that it has too many samurai with nothing else to do.
It could even be they never intended to take over in the 19th century case but just use it as an excuse to be rid of the samurai
 
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