Queen Min of Joseon

Empress Myeoung-Song of Joseon (1851-1895), more commonly known as Queen Min, was the last empress of Korea. She did many things to save Korea from being conquered by the Japanese.

Empress Myeoung-Song was the wife of Emperor Go-jong, Emperor of the Joseon Dynasty of the Daehan Empire. During her life as empress, she strived diplomatically and politically, and opened up to Western technologies to develop her country. She also summoned the help of Russia and the Qing Dynasty of China to block the Japanese from taking over Joseon.

However, the Japanese considered her an obstacle and decided to assassinate her in order to take over Joseon. In August 1895, the Japanese government hired Japanese samurai to invade Gyeonbok Palace and assassinate Empress Myeoung-Song. They succeeded, and Empress Myeoung-Song's brave attempts to save her country failed, and Joseon was annexed by the Japanese Empire in 1910.

There is some uncertainty about the date of Queen Min's assassination. Most authorities view October 8, 1895 as the correct date; however, other sources cite the date as August 20, 1895.