Lets take a journey back in time, more than thirty years ago, during a time of tyranny and oppression. A man, noticing the state of life in which he is surrounded, attempts to change the order and treatment of his fellow countrymen, he believed that " 'the people are the root of the nation.(6)' " Sick of the religious ideals forced upon him, and the "Corruption ridden government, (1)" Ch'oe Che-u spread his "Eastern Learning" ideas to become a leading radical movement within Korea.

The Tonghak rebellion which began to take shape the year of its founder's execution, 1864, has now risen and become a leading movement gaining momentum and support with each coming battle victory (4). One of the strongest reasons that this rebellion has lasted is because the rebels strongly believe in what they are fighting for. Che-u's execution caused many followers to go into hiding until their oppression could not be heeded anymore. The government's choice of action was that of fear of the growing popularity of the movement, they decided that action must be taken to place a sense of fear into the eye of those who dont conform. Tonghak urges that "the nation be strengthened and the livelihood of the people be ensured,(2)" along with the disassembly of the current corrupt government in order to extend and become a fuller and richer nation. Followers of the movement believe that " 'the whole nation is as one,(3)' " and therfore is unfair to single out others because of creed or class.

Government officials claim that the rebellion is with out a foundation, claiming that the tax money is forwarded to public projects. Peasants point out an incident that became the turning point of their effort. Claiming that the Magistrate of the Kobu County taxed and extorted his people after they had erected a public reservoir. This act was the straw that broke the camels back, peasants began to take arms and fight back a gainst government tyranny and social oppression.

The Tonghak rebellion, although against the established government of Korea, does bring up key problems in the government that need to be examined. Because of the rebellion, the government has made efforts needed to make up for their wrong doings, and are working toward building a stronger country. The Tonghak believers claim that corruption has cost them financially, and that they are being oppressed because of their beliefs. And so they will fight, and continue with their struggle to be heard because it is their belief that "the people are the root of the nation."

In this seesaw battle being fought amongst ourselves, one tends to wonder if fighting is the best way to solve the issue, because in the end we both lose. Only time will tell if the radical Tonghak faithful will prevail and try to undo the wrongs that the government has committed. From a governments perspective, this rebellion has already been won, the message has been received, and its only a matter of time. But the lasting affects, no matter what the out come may be, will be cause for a serious re-evaluation of the governments system and how matters of this sort are handled in the future. In this journalists view, the rebellion may soon be over, but the process to rebuild a better and more stable government has just begun.

Footnotes

books/world wide web

(1) Ki-baik Lee, A New History Of Korea, trans. Edward W. Wagner

(Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1984, 258.

(2) Ki-baik Lee, A New History Of Korea, trans. Edward W. Wagner

(Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1984, 258.

(3) Ki-baik Lee, A New History Of Korea, trans. Edward W. Wagner

(Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1984, 284.

(4) "Tonghak rebellion in Korea 1894-1895," [http://www.onwar.com/aced/data/kilo/korea1894.htm].

(5) The Korean Embassy, "Challenges of Modernization," [http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/history/challenges_of_modernization.htm].

(6) Ki-baik Lee, A New History Of Korea, trans. Edward W. Wagner

(Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1984, 284.

images

(7) Antonio Martins, "Korea, 1893," [http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/kr_hist.html#1905].

(8) "About Korea," [http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/kr_hist.html#1905].

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