French campaign against Korea

French campaign against Korea. The French campaign against Korea, also known as the French expedition to Korea of 1866, was a punitive military operation launched by the Second French Empire against the Joseon Kingdom. The primary catalyst was the execution of French Catholic missionaries and Korean converts during the Byeongin Persecution. The conflict, focused on Ganghwa Island, resulted in a Korean victory that reinforced the kingdom's isolationist policies under the Heungseon Daewongun.

Background and causes

The campaign's origins lie in the intersection of French imperial ambitions and intense domestic politics in Joseon Korea. The Heungseon Daewongun, acting as regent for King Gojong, pursued a strict policy of isolationism and the suppression of Christianity, viewing it as a subversive foreign influence. This culminated in the Byeongin Persecution of 1866, during which nine French missionaries from the Paris Foreign Missions Society, including Bishop Siméon-François Berneux, were executed alongside thousands of Korean converts. News of these events reached the French authorities in China, notably the French Minister to China, Alphonse de Bourboulon, and the commander of the French Navy's Far East squadron, Admiral Pierre-Gustave Roze. Seeking to assert French prestige and avenge the deaths, while potentially securing trade concessions similar to those gained from the Second Opium War in China, Admiral Roze planned a punitive expedition.

Course of the campaign

In October 1866, Admiral Pierre-Gustave Roze led a naval squadron from Chefoo to the Korean coast. The initial French objective was the strategic island of Ganghwa Island, guarding the approach to the Han River and the capital, Hanyang. French forces quickly occupied the lower town and seized historical artifacts, including Joseon Dynasty royal texts like the Uigwe. However, the main assault on the fortified Ganghwa citadel failed due to stiff resistance from Korean troops under commanders like General Yang Heon-su and well-prepared defensive positions. A subsequent attempt to advance up the Han River toward Seoul was also thwarted by Korean artillery batteries and the river's shallow waters. Facing mounting casualties, difficult terrain, and the onset of winter, Admiral Roze ordered a withdrawal. His forces retreated to China in November, having failed to achieve their military or diplomatic objectives.

Aftermath and consequences

The immediate aftermath solidified the political standing of the Heungseon Daewongun, who used the victory to reinforce his policy of isolationism, erecting monuments known as *cheonha dae byeokpae* proclaiming opposition to foreign influence. For France, the failed campaign was a minor setback in its colonial competition with powers like the British Empire and Russian Empire in Northeast Asia. The event was soon overshadowed by the larger United States expedition to Korea in 1871 and the eventual opening of Korea by Japan following the Ganghwa Island incident. Internally, the persecution of Christianity continued, but the encounter provided Korea with a brief, false sense of military security against Western imperialism.

Historical assessment

Historians view the campaign as a significant, though limited, clash of imperialism and isolationism. It is often compared to other contemporary conflicts like the Second Opium War and the American Civil War, highlighting the global reach of Western military power. While a tactical failure for France, it exposed the technological and military vulnerability of Joseon Korea, a weakness later exploited by Meiji Japan. The event is studied as part of the "Western imperialism in Asia" and the "Opening of Korea" narratives. Key primary sources include the dispatches of Admiral Roze and the official records of the Joseon Dynasty, such as the *Annals of the Joseon Dynasty*.

In popular culture

The French campaign has been depicted in several Korean cultural works, often as a symbol of national resistance. It features prominently in the television drama *The Dawn of the Empire*, which focuses on the reign of Gojong. The conflict is also a central plot element in the novel *The Foreigner* by Kim Hoon. The seized Uigwe manuscripts, looted during the occupation of Ganghwa Island, became a major cultural heritage issue, leading to a protracted diplomatic campaign by the Republic of Korea for their return from the Bibliothèque nationale de France.

Category:1866 in Korea Category:Conflicts in 1866 Category:French colonial empire