Culture1865 – 1868
Gyeongbokgung rebuilt
The Daewongun rebuilt Gyeongbokgung, in ruins since 1592; the forced contributions and debased coins that paid for it caused wide resentment.
Percival Lowell · Public domain · Source
To restore royal prestige worn down by in-law clan rule, the Daewongun began rebuilding Gyeongbokgung in 1865. Commoners were conscripted for labour and even trees in yangban grave plots were felled for timber. He extracted nominally voluntary “contributions”, charged tolls at the capital gates and added a surtax on land.
The dangbaekjeon coin, issued at a face value of 100 regular coins but worth far less, set off soaring prices. Gojong moved into the new palace in 1868, but the resentment of yangban and commoners alike was one reason for the Daewongun’s fall.
