# Gojong enthroned under the Daewongun (21 January 1864)

URL: https://allhistories.com/south-korea/timeline/1864-gojong-enthroned-under-the-daewongun
Location: Hanseong, Joseon
Themes: Politics

After King Cheoljong died in January 1864 (the twelfth month of 1863 in the lunar calendar), Queen Dowager Sinjeong, the senior widow of the royal house, chose the eleven-year-old Yi Myeong-bok as heir. He was enthroned on 21 January 1864 and is known as King Gojong. Because the king was a child, real power passed to his father, Yi Ha-eung, who received the title Heungseon Daewongun, an honor reserved for the living father of a king who had not reigned himself. The Daewongun broke the dominance of the Andong Kim clan and appointed officials more widely. He launched sweeping reforms: he closed most private Confucian academies (seowon), made yangban households pay the military tax, revised the grain-loan system and rebuilt Gyeongbokgung Palace, burned since the Imjin War, at great cost. In foreign policy he pursued strict isolation and harshly persecuted Catholics. Gojong would reign until 1907, presiding over Korea's opening to the world and the proclamation of the Korean Empire.

## Why it matters
Gojong's accession began the Daewongun's decade of reform and isolationism.

Ruler at the Time: [Gojong of Korea](https://allhistories.com/south-korea/rulers/gojong-of-korea)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Gojong of Korea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gojong_of_Korea)
- [Wikipedia — Heungseon Daewongun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heungseon_Daewongun)
- [Wikipedia — Queen Sinjeong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Sinjeong)
- [Wikipedia — Gyeongbokgung](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyeongbokgung)
- [Wikipedia — Late Joseon (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseon)