Victory did not improve the attitude of the Japanese to the Koreans.  While the war was on the Japanese soldiers had shown very strict discipline, save on certain unusual occasions.  Now, however, they walked as conquerors.  The Japanese Government presented further demands to the King that would have meant the entire trade of Korea being monopolized by their countrymen.  These demands went so far that the foreign representatives protested.

The new Japanese Minister, Count Inouye, protested publicly and privately against the violent ways and rascalities of the new Japanese immigrants pouring into Korea.  He denounced their lack of cooeperation, arrogance and extravagance.  “If the Japanese continue in their arrogance and rudeness,” he declared, “all respect and love due to them will be lost and there will remain hatred and enmity against them.”

Several of the participants in the emeute of 1884 were brought back by the Japanese and Pak Yung-hyo became Home Minister.  He was very different from the rash youth who had tried to promote reform by murder eleven years before.  He had a moderate, sensible program, the reform and modernization of the army, the limitation of the powers of the monarchy and the promotion of education on Western lines.  “What our people need,” he declared, “is education and Christianization.”  Unfortunately he fell under suspicion.  The Queen thought that his attempt to limit the power of the King was a plot against the throne.  He received warning that his arrest had been ordered, and had to flee the country.

Count Inouye ranks with Prince Ito as the two best Japanese administrators sent to Korea.  He was followed, in September, 1895, by Viscount General Miura, an old soldier, a Buddhist of the Zen school and an extreme ascetic.

The Queen continued to exercise her remarkable influence over the King, who took her advice in everything.  She was the real ruler of the country.  What if her family was, for a time, in disgrace?  She quietly worked and brought them back in office again.  Time after time she checked both the Japanese Minister and the Regent.

The Japanese Secretary of Legation, Fukashi Sugimura, had long since lost patience with the Queen and urged on Miura that the best thing was to get rid of her.  Why should one woman be allowed to stand between them and their purpose?  Every day she was interfering more and more in the affairs of state.  She was proposing to disband a force of troops that had been created, the Kunrentai, and placed under Japanese officers.  It was reported that she was contemplating a scheme for usurping all political power by degrading some and killing other Cabinet Ministers favourable to Japan.  Miura agreed.  She was ungrateful.  Disorder and confusion would be introduced into the new Japanese organization for governing the country.  She must be stopped.