Empress Myeongseong

1851–1895

Empress Myeongseong, also called Queen Min, was the wife of King Gojong and an influential figure in late Joseon politics. She sought foreign support to resist Japanese domination and was assassinated in 1895 by Japanese agents and Korean collaborators at Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Pearl S. Buck’s The Living Reed is set in 1881 the Kim family serves close to the Korean royal court. Secure in rank but divided over how the kingdom should respond to foreign pressure.