The Path Chosen by the King in the Face of His People's Suffering

By KTH

The 26th king of Joseon, Gojong, who reigned over one of the most closed-off countries in the world during the 19th century, received ten years of regency from the age of 12. In 1873, with the fall of his father, Heungseon Daewongun, Gojong began to independently manage state affairs for the first time. As Korea’s last absolute monarch and one of the most notoriously ineffectual rulers in history, Gojong embarked on his first royal visit outside the palace in 1874 to inspect the lives of the common people. “Ugh, this is disgusting! Why are the roads so narrow here?” Gojong complained as he glanced around in distaste. Turning to Prime Minister Yulgok, he asked, “How long must I endure this tiresome tour?” “Your Majesty, though it is but a façade, even in a constitutional monarchy, you must at least pretend to care for the people’s welfare,” Yulgok pleaded. “Why not have Daewongun take care of such matters? My father is still hale and hearty. This is ridiculous. Hey, you there! Why is this palanquin so unbearably hot? Add more ice, now!” Gojong barked at his attendants, sweat trickling down his face. At long last, Gojong declared, “Enough. Let us rest at this tavern.” His words brought a sigh of relief to the exhausted palace servants. But just as they began to relax, the sound of a loud gong pierced the air. “Who dares beat a gong in the presence of the exalted king?” Gojong demanded angrily. “Your Majesty, it appears to be a subject filing a formal grievance,” Yulgok explained. “An insolent commoner? Only I, the divine ruler, can address such foolishness. What is it? Speak!” Gojong stopped his palanquin and questioned the prostrate petitioner. “Who are you, and where are you from?” “Your Majesty, I am a physician from this region. The harvest has failed, and the people are starving. Please, Your Majesty, intervene with the local officials to save us!” the man pleaded. “Fine, fine. You there, send ten doctors from Jejungwon to this village,” Gojong ordered. “Also, my people suffer from dysentery and fever, Your Majesty. Many of them wish to see you in person…” “What insolence!” Gojong interrupted. “What if I contract their disease? Do you expect your king to risk his life for peasants?” Before he could continue, Yulgok quickly covered the king’s mouth. “Your Majesty, it will be brief. Please, think of the suffering of your people.” “Oh, very well. I’ll delay my meal to visit these wretches first,” Gojong relented begrudgingly. The courtiers following behind sighed heavily, lamenting their king’s ineptitude. “He’s not even half the man his father was. The nation’s demise is near,” they muttered among themselves. At the village hospital, Gojong wrinkled his nose in disgust. “What have these filthy peasants been eating? The stench is unbearable!” he complained. “I feel like vomiting.” “It will be over soon, Your Majesty,” Yulgok reassured him gently. Approaching a patient, Gojong asked dismissively, “What ails you?” “Sire, I am a 60-year-old man suffering from… fever and…” “Enough, enough,” Gojong interrupted, grimacing. Just then, a young maiden appeared. “Who is this girl?” Gojong inquired. “She is a virtuous young woman from this village,” the village head replied. “She and her sister, aged 15 and 18, lost their parents to disease and now suffer from dysentery themselves.” Moved—at least outwardly—by the plight of the young women, Gojong commanded, “Summon the physicians immediately!” “Your Majesty, dysentery is a gastrointestinal illness. A proper examination is required…” the physician hesitated. “What? A physical examination of the abdomen?” Gojong’s expression suddenly shifted. “As the benevolent ruler, I shall personally oversee the care of these girls. All others, leave!” “Your Majesty, such impropriety…” Yulgok protested. “Silence, Yulgok! Do you question my compassion? Leave at once!” Gojong shouted, driving out the courtiers and physicians. As the royal chronicler discreetly recorded the scene, Gojong caught sight of him. “What are you writing?” he demanded. “Nothing, Your Majesty…” “Give that here!” Snatching the record, Gojong read aloud: “The king spies on village maidens under the guise of inspection…” Furious, he threw the document to the ground. “Get out, all of you! From now on, I shall personally care for these girls for three days,” he announced, dismissing the officials. Over the next three days, Gojong focused his attention on a 19-year-old maiden named Boksun, who suffered from persistent fever and abdominal pain. When the physicians examined her, Gojong hovered nearby, his interest growing increasingly inappropriate. Unable to restrain himself any longer, he approached her after the physicians left. “Boksun, what did the doctors say?” he asked. “Your Majesty, they prescribed herbal medicine and advised me to keep warm,” she replied meekly. “Good. Then let me help you recover. Take off your clothes so I can massage your abdomen.” “Your Majesty, I am betrothed to a scholar from the neighboring village…” “Silence! Who is this scholar? You are now my concubine,” Gojong declared. Terrified by his threats, Boksun complied reluctantly, and Gojong spent three nights abusing her under the guise of treatment. Months later, after Boksun had recovered, Gojong forcibly brought her to the palace as a concubine. Despite protests from local scholars, he dismissed them all, accusing her fiancé of treason and exiling him. When Boksun gave birth to a son, Gojong abandoned her, naming the child Yi San after his favorite historical king, Jeongjo, and granting him the title of Prince Chungnyeol. This child would later become a harbinger of Korea’s downfall.

Story Content

The Path Chosen by the King in the Face of His People's Suffering

KTH

“Your Majesty, it appears to be a subject filing a formal grievance,” Yulgok explained. “An insolent commoner? Only I, the divine ruler, can address such foolishness. What is it? Speak!” Gojong stopped his palanquin and questioned the prostrate petitioner. “Who are you, and where are you from?” “Your Majesty, I am a physician from this region. The harvest has failed, and the people are starving. Please, Your Majesty, intervene with the local officials to save us!” the man pleaded. “Fine, fine. You there, send ten doctors from Jejungwon to this village,” Gojong ordered. “Also, my people suffer from dysentery and fever, Your Majesty. Many of them wish to see you in person…” “What insolence!” Gojong interrupted. “What if I contract their disease? Do you expect your king to risk his life for peasants?” Before he could continue, Yulgok quickly covered the king’s mouth. “Your Majesty, it will be brief. Please, think of the suffering of your people.” “Oh, very well. I’ll delay my meal to visit these wretches first,” Gojong relented begrudgingly. The courtiers following behind sighed heavily, lamenting their king’s ineptitude. “He’s not even half the man his father was. The nation’s demise is near,” they muttered among themselves. At the village hospital, Gojong wrinkled his nose in disgust. “What have these filthy peasants been eating? The stench is unbearable!” he complained. “I feel like vomiting.” “It will be over soon, Your Majesty,” Yulgok reassured him gently. Approaching a patient, Gojong asked dismissively, “What ails you?”

“Sire, I am a 60-year-old man suffering from… fever and…” “Enough, enough,” Gojong interrupted, grimacing. Just then, a young maiden appeared. “Who is this girl?” Gojong inquired. “She is a virtuous young woman from this village,” the village head replied. “She and her sister, aged 15 and 18, lost their parents to disease and now suffer from dysentery themselves.” Moved—at least outwardly—by the plight of the young women, Gojong commanded, “Summon the physicians immediately!” “Your Majesty, dysentery is a gastrointestinal illness. A proper examination is required…” the physician hesitated. “What? A physical examination of the abdomen?” Gojong’s expression suddenly shifted. “As the benevolent ruler, I shall personally oversee the care of these girls. All others, leave!” “Your Majesty, such impropriety…” Yulgok protested. “Silence, Yulgok! Do you question my compassion? Leave at once!” Gojong shouted, driving out the courtiers and physicians. As the royal chronicler discreetly recorded the scene, Gojong caught sight of him. “What are you writing?” he demanded. “Nothing, Your Majesty…” “Give that here!” Snatching the record, Gojong read aloud: “The king spies on village maidens under the guise of inspection…” Furious, he threw the document to the ground. “Get out, all of you! From now on, I shall personally care for these girls for three days,” he announced, dismissing the officials. Over the next three days, Gojong focused his attention on a 19-year-old maiden named Boksun, who suffered from persistent fever and abdominal pain. When the physicians examined her, Gojong hovered nearby, his interest growing increasingly inappropriate.

Unable to restrain himself any longer, he approached her after the physicians left. “Boksun, what did the doctors say?” he asked. “Your Majesty, they prescribed herbal medicine and advised me to keep warm,” she replied meekly. “Good. Then let me help you recover. Take off your clothes so I can massage your abdomen.” “Your Majesty, I am betrothed to a scholar from the neighboring village…” “Silence! Who is this scholar? You are now my concubine,” Gojong declared. Terrified by his threats, Boksun complied reluctantly, and Gojong spent three nights abusing her under the guise of treatment. Months later, after Boksun had recovered, Gojong forcibly brought her to the palace as a concubine. Despite protests from local scholars, he dismissed them all, accusing her fiancé of treason and exiling him. When Boksun gave birth to a son, Gojong abandoned her, naming the child Yi San after his favorite historical king, Jeongjo, and granting him the title of Prince Chungnyeol. This child would later become a harbinger of Korea’s downfall.