Gwangmu Reform

The Gwangmu Reform (Korean: 광무개혁; Hanja: 光武改革; RR: Gwangmu Gaehyeok) was a collection of reforms that were aimed at modernizing and westernizing the Korean Empire as it felt held back from what other countries had achieved in their own process of Industrial Revolutions.

The reforms that took place during the Gwangmu Era from 1897 to 1907 showed, in the long term, Korean potential for starting and achieving modernisation.

Following the collapse of the Gabo government proclaiming the abolition of the status system, the loyalists’ cabinet was formed in 1896.

The new cabinet, which became the Gwangmu government after the establishment of the Korean Empire, introduced systematic measures for abolishing the traditional class system.

One of these was the new household registration system, reflecting the goals of formal social equality, which was implemented by the loyalists’ cabinet.

[1] Although most Koreans by that time had surnames and even bongwan (clan name), a substantial number of cheonmin (low caste commoners), which mostly consisted of serfs and slaves, and untouchables, still did not.

Several years later, all Korean soldiers and policemen were required to wear Western style uniforms.

Training by Russian officers beginning in 1896 led to the organization of a 1,000-strong royal bodyguard armed with Berdan rifles that served as the core of an improved army.

[3] In 1897, the cadastral survey project was launched by the Gwangmu government, aimed at modernizing the landownership system.

[10] The new system consisted of three sectors: public health, medical care, and monitoring of private practitioners and drug-sellers.