The Imperial Korean Armed Forces (대한제국군) was the military of the Korean Empire.
History
Foundation
Succeeding the Joseon Army and Navy, the Gwangmu Reform reorganized the military into a modern western-style military. The foundation of the Imperial Korean Army started when Inoue Kaoru argued that the King should modernize the military and the commanding system in 1895. Korea established many military academies in Korea. Gojong of Korea tried to install his guards, but because of the interruptions of Japan, it was hard to use the Capital Guards (Siwidae,(시위대), (侍衛隊)) as his palace guards. But when the Japanese were being interrupted by other European countries, the Siwidae was formed as Gojong's guards. The minister of the military supervises the training of the Siwidae. However, the Siwidae was disbanded in August of that year for failing to stop the Japanese from assassinating Empress Myeongseong.
Russian instructors
Following Min Young-hwan's journey to Russia, he brought 14 Russian military instructors led by Dmitry Putyata in October 1896. Minister of Military Yi Yun-yong requested training 2,200 men to be trained by these instructors. Russian instructors picked 800 men and specially trained these men. By February 1897, Chinwidae was expanded to 1,080 men so that Gojong's return to his palace would be easier.
Era of Gwangmu Reform
After proclaiming the empire, Gojong consolidated his absolute control over military by the establishment of Board of Marshals. By the time Gojong established the Board of Marshals, military of Korean Empire was fragmented. Even the Bobusangs, who used to work for the emperor were trying to build their own army. He thought that such fragmentation of military would be an impediment when coping the imminent crisis caused by the conflict of Russia and Japan. Many of the authorities of Ministry of Military was taken by the Boards of Marshals as a result.
As a way to increase and maintain the Imperial authority, the Imperial government decided to expand Siwidae, stationed at Seoul. On 27 May 1898, the two battalions of Siwidae were integrated to one regiment, and Lieutenant Colonel Cho Tong-yun was appointed as the commander of the 1st Siwi Regiment. In July, an artillery battalion armed with modern cannons was formed as an independent company. Starting from August 1899, the Imperial government recognized the need to expand Siwidae even further so that the Siwi regiment would be a proper combat unit. Cavalry battalion consisting 408 men was formed. Moreover in December 1900, the artillery company was expanded to battalion and was subordinated to the regiment. With the expansion of artillery, one platoon of military band was established. Siwidae was even further expanded in February 1902, as one more Siwi Regiment was established. By this time, Siwidae totaled about 3,000 men.
Under Japanese Pressure
At the dawn of the Russo-Japanese War, Japanese forcefully signed the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1904 and made supply in Korea much easier. They not only stationed Japanese Korean Army in Yongsan, but also established a military base in Dokdo. In May 1904, Japanese declared official deployment of their army in Korea and started to minimize the Korean army. They stated that using 43 percent of the total tax expenditure in the army was extravagant, stating that Japanese forces will be the proxy for the Imperial Korean Army as armed force.
As the Japanese victory seemed apparent, Japanese confiscated most of the rights of the Board of Marshals, and even disbanded the organization in late 1904, weakening the authority of the emperor. Other than the dissolvement Board of Marshals, the Gungichang was disestablished, and Ministry of Military went through further reduction.
Organization
The military system of the Korean Empire consisted of imperial guards, central troops, and provincial troops. It consisted of infantry, artillery, machine gunners, and cavalry. Unlike in the Joseon Dynasty, service was voluntary.
Ministry of Military
In 1895, the government established the Ministry of Military as part of the Gabo Reform. The job of the ministry was to control the military government and supervise military forces and bases. The first Minister of Military was Cho Hui-yon.
Board of Marshals
By Gojong's intention to enhance the authority of the emperor, he commissioned himself as the Grand Field Marshal and became the supreme commander of army and navy in June 1898. Next year, Gojong established Board of Marshals in his palace, while weakening the authority of the Ministry of Military.