Despite the overwhelming numerical advantage of the peasant army, they were unable to break through the defensive line of the suppressing forces, who had superior weapons and tactics.

Under the pretext of suppressing the revolution, the Japanese troops that entered Korea occupied Gyeongbokgung Palace on June 21, 1894, and forced King Gojong and the Daewongun to establish a new cabinet based on the model of a constitutional monarchy.

[2] Jeon Bong-jun and his army of about 4,000 people decided to initiate the uprising in Samrye, Jeollabuk-do, a strategic location with wide geographical influence.

Therefore, while waiting for the end of the harvest season, Jeon Bong-jun made efforts to gather allied forces to join the uprising.

[5] Meanwhile, Choi Si-hyeong (1827-1898), who advocated for peaceful negotiations, accepted the pretext of anti-foreign imperialism and ordered armed resistance.

[2] Gongju, which was a strategic point in Chungcheong Province, was surrounded by mountains on three sides and had excellent geographical conditions with the Geumgang River flowing to the north.

Behind him was Gu Seungjo and Seong Ha-yeong leading the elite forces of the Joseon government, including the military forces of the Palace Guards (Gyeongricheong) led by Palace Guard Commanders (Gyeongricheong Yeonggwan (경리청영관 (經理廳領官)) Seong Ha-yeong (成夏泳) and Hong Un-seop, the Left Vanguard Army of the Metropolitan Guard (좌선봉진군(左先鋒陳軍), 통위영군)) led by Yi Gyu-tae (通威營軍), the Integrated Defense Unit (Pyeongwiyeong), the Military Training Division, and the camp troops commanded by Uyeongjang Yi Gi-dong.

[6][5] The peasant army of 40,000 that gathered in Samrye (southern faction) began its northward march around October 12, when the harvest was almost completed, and arrived in Nonsan.

The remaining 6,000 people were peasant armies that joined forces with Jeon Bong-jun and marched north to Gongju from places such as Ganggyeong in Chungcheong Province, Nonsan, Eunjin, and Noseong.

However, the peasant army was unable to overcome the superior firepower and unfavorable conditions of the government and Japanese forces and had to retreat temporarily.

In response, Jeon Bong-jun, with the support of Kim Gae-nam's troops, regrouped and engaged in battles with government and Japanese forces in Ugeumchi, Gongju, on November 8th and 9th.

[6] The Donghak Peasant Army devised a plan to launch a coordinated attack on Gongju from the Buyeo and Nonsan directions.

This battle unfolded over three days in locations such as Hyopo (孝浦), Panchi (板峙), and Ungchi (熊峙) which was about 10 li (about 4 kilometers) away.

Although the peasant army had the disadvantage in terms of weapons and tactics, they initially fought bravely and breached Gongju's defense took Yiyin and up to Hyopyo.

However, the Donghak Peasant Army, armed with mostly bows and arrows, spears, swords and matchlocks couldn't withstand the well-trained and superior firepower of the government forces and Japanese troops armed with Murata rifles and gatling guns, the Northern Jeob experienced severe casualties in Ungchi, because they lacked proper training in war and they were defeated.

The government forces defended the sides (Hyopyo, Ungchi, Mount Bonghwang), while the Japanese were stationed in Ugeumchi proper.

[9] Finally, around 3 p.m., the first division crossed Panji and attacked Yiyin and Hyopo, diverting the attention of the government forces in that direction.

[2][6] On the morning of November 9th, the deployment of both sides revealed that the Donghak Peasant Army had advanced from Panji in the east to Bonghwangsan in the west, spanning about 40 to 50 li (about 16 to 20 kilometers).

Riding the momentum of victory, the peasant army launched a full-scale attack towards the suppressing forces' positions in Ugeumchi.

The suppressing forces occupied advantageous high points in terrain, including Gyunjunbong (犬蹲峰), and waited for the peasant army.

[2][6][9] At 10 a.m., the Donghak Peasant Army began its attack towards Ugeumchi, and at the same time, the other division of about 10,000 soldiers, who had faced Samhwasan, advanced towards the rear mountain of Osil.

[6] Meanwhile, in Hyopyo, the 10,000 rebels took advantage of the government army's negligence in defense and attacked the mountain peak all day long.

In addition, thousands of Donghak peasant troops stationed in Hyopo also lost morale and were ambushed by about 10 disguised government soldiers and retreated toward Gyeryongsan Mountain.

According to oral testimonies recorded in the early 2000s at Ugeumchi, Satsatjae, and Seungjugal, which were the battlefields between the peasant army and the suppressing forces, the dead were so numerous that they were simply covered with soil, and the entire area became a graveyard.

[9][2] The Korean government forces and Japanese troops successfully defended their positions and repelled the Donghak Peasant Army's attacks.

The peasant army disintegrated without being able to form a unified front, and subsequent regional resistance movements occurred sporadically at a diminishing level.