Woo Beom-seon

Woo Beom-seon (禹範善, May 24, 1857 – November 24, 1903) was a military officer, soldier, and politician of Joseon and the Korean Empire, and one of the senior figures of the late Joseon period who was a Korean collaborator in the Eulmi Incident, taking part in the brutal crime of gang-raping, murdering, and dismembering Empress Myeongseong.

After fleeing to Japan, he was assassinated by Ko Young-geun, a disguised secret agent and assassin who had received orders from the government of the Korean Empire. He was also the father of Woo Jang-choon, who was appointed director of the agricultural research institute of the First Republic of Korea under the protection of Syngman Rhee.

Life

He was born into a military family. He began studying Chinese classics at the age of seven, and in 1876 passed the military civil service examination. He was then assigned to work in Hwanghae Province, and in 1881, when the Byeolgigun was established, he joined it. Beginning with his participation in the Byeolgigun, a new-style army founded at Japan's instigation, Woo became close to the reformist forces backed by Japan, and because of this he came into conflict with the Min clan of Empress Myeongseong and was even exiled.

In 1894, after the Japanese army overthrew the Min faction, the Enlightenment Party took power, and he participated in the Gabo reforms at the Gunguk Gimuchu. In 1895, when the Hullyeondae was established under Japanese leadership, he served as battalion commander together with pro-Japanese military men such as Yi Du-hwang (李斗璜) and Yi Ju-hoe.

At this time, it was expected that under the anti-Japanese, pro-Russian line of Empress Myeongseong, Russia's power would grow. Miura Gorō, the Japanese minister, who opposed this, together with the officers of the Hullyeondae, drew up a plan to assassinate . Woo was responsible for mobilizing the Hullyeondae soldiers, and he also took part in the final disposal of the burned body of . On February 11, 1896, issued a royal order for the arrest of Woo Beom-seon, , , (張博), Kwon Young-jin (權濚鎭), , Yi Bom-rae (李範來), (李軫鎬), and others. On February 15, Gojong issued an order for the of Woo Beom-seon and the others. At this time, he was in hiding to avoid arrest.