# Ministry of Military (Korean Empire)

The Ministry of Military (Korean: 군부) was a department of the governments of Joseon and its successor the Korean Empire that oversaw military affairs.

## History

The Ministry of Military was formed during the Gabo Reform, when the ministries of the governments were re-organized. Ministry of Military supervised the army in general. As the Board of Marshals was established and installed in Palace, the Ministry of Military diminished in the authority. The ministry was left with the general administration. After the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907, Gunbu became Qinwibu and was disestablished in July 1909.

## Organizations

The ministry of military included 26 people. Most of the members had military ranks. There was 1 Minister who was a Lieutenant General, Hyeopan who was a Major General. Directors of each sections were either Colonel or Major General.
In 1895, there were 5 affiliated organizations of the Ministry of Military. There was Dae-shin Gwan-bang (Hangul: 대신관방, Hanja: 大臣官房), which was the office of Minister, where the Minister took office. The 5 affiliated organizations were, the Military Affair section, Artillery section (Hangul: 포공국), the Accounting section, the Military law section, and the Military Medic section. Director of each sections were Major General or Colonel and Vice Minister simultaneously work as the Director of the Military Affair section. And the Director of the Military law section was Director of the Military Affair section. All sections except the Military medic section was First Class section while the Military medic section was Third Class section. In 1896, Military school was established and was affiliated to Military of Military. The school educated young officers. Following the establishment of the Board of Marshals, the Military Affair section was excluded from the ministry. In 1900, Military court was established and on 8 July 1904, Military factory, though in a small size, was established. One Major General or a colonel was attached to the factory as the director, and one Major or Lieutenant Colonel was attached as an adjutant. After the Japanese victory of the Russo-Japanese War, Japan started to minimize the Board of Marshals and the Ministry of Military. Under Japanese instructions, the Ministry of Military was changed by 12 military editors. In August 1904, the Artillery section was disestablished. After the disestablishment, Navy section (Hangul: 해방국, Hanja:海防局) was established on 27 September 1904. The Military Medic Section became 1st Class Section at the same day. Also, the Military Affair section was afflicted to the Ministry of Military. Lastly, the staff ministry and the Education Section was established. These reforms were under the supervision of Japanese influence, and 12 editors military system of the Imperial Korean Army, who were Gwon Jung-hyeon, Min Young-gi, Min Young-hwan, Yi Yun-yong, Yi Ji-yong, Gu Young-jo, Pak Chesoon, Um Jun-won, Hyeong Young-wun, Yi Byeong-mu, and Yi Hui-du.
In August 1907, Ministry of Military was minimized in size. There were only two subordinating sections which were, the Military Affair section, and the Accounting Section was the only sections.

### Office of Minister

The Office of Minister supervised the Personnel affairs. The office administrated the appointment of officers, and awarding officers.

### Military Affair Section

The Military Affair Section subordinated the Military Affair Discipline (軍事課), Cavalry Discipline (馬政課), and Foreign Affair Discipline (外國課). The Military Affair Discipline supervised the organization, tactics, deployment of units, education, and deployment of officers. Cavalry Discipline supervised the cavalry of the Army. Foreign Affair Discipline supervised the sending boarding students, translation of documents, and administrating documents.

### Artillery Section

The Artillery Section administrated the artillery. The section subordinated Artillery Discipline, and Military Engineer Discipline. Artillery Discipline supervised artillery, and Military Engineer Discipline supervised military engineer. The section was disestablished in 1904.

#### Directors

Directors of the Artillery Section :
| Name | Rank | Start Date | End Date |
| Ryu Hyeok-ro | Lieutenant Colonel | 1 April 1895 (Lunar Calendar) | 3 November 1895 (Lunar Calendar) |
| Yi Byeong-wo | Major | 4 January 1896 | 31 March 1896 |
| Yi Min-geung | Major | 22 April 1896 | 20 July 1900 |
| Yi Gang-ha | Lieutenant Colonel | 29 September 1900 | 4 February 1901 |
| Yi Geon-young | Lieutenant Colonel | 4 February 1901 | 15 March 1901 |
| Yi Gi-dong | Lieutenant Colonel | 16 March 1901 | ? |
| Kwon Chongsuck | Major | 30 July 1901 | ? |

### Education Section

The Education Section administrated the military education. It had the Army College of Korean Empire as subordinating organization. The Ministry became Education Discipline on 28 August 1907, and became part of Military Affair section.

#### Directors

Directors of the Education Section :
| Name | Rank | Start Date | End Date |
| Baek Seong-gi | Major General | 1 March 1905 | 17 June 1905 |
| Gim Young-jin | Major General | 22 June 1905 | 27 July 1905 |
| Yi Byeong-mu | Major General | 29 July 1905 | ? |
| No Baek-rin | Colonel | 7 June 1907 | 19 June 1907 |

### Staff Ministry

The staff ministry supervised all the affairs of military after its establishment in September 1904. The chief was Colonel General or Lieutenant General. There were two sections under the ministry. 1st Section supervised the tactics, location of bases, organizing units, and laws of war. The 2nd Section supervised foreign affairs, and intelligence. Also, the staff ministry subordinated Adjutant ministry, which supervised personnel affairs, and reporting of the staff ministry. Two adjutants were included in the ministry.

#### Ministers

Ministers of Staff Ministry :
| Name | Rank | Start Date | End Date |
| Yi Yun-yong | Lieutenant General | 28 September 1904 | |
| Yun Ung-nyeol | Lieutenant General | 30 September 1904 | 1 January 1905 |

### Military Medic Section

The Military Medic Section subordinated 1st Discipline and 2nd Discipline. 1st Discipline supervised the medic of army, and the second discipline was in charge of personnel affair of medics.

## Ministers

Minister of Military :
| Name | Rank | Start Date | End Date |
| Cho Hui-yeon | Lieutenant General | 1 April 1895 (Lunar Calendar) | 23 April 1895 (Lunar Calendar) |
| Shin Gi-seon | Lieutenant General | | |
| Ahn Gyeong-su | Lieutenant General | | |
| Cho Hui-yeon | Lieutenant General | | |
| Yi Do-jae | Lieutenant General | | |
| Cho Hui-yeon | Lieutenant General | | |
| Yi Yun-yong | Lieutenant General | | |
| Min Young-hwan | Lieutenant General | | |
| Yi Jong-geon | Lieutenant General | | |
| Min Young-gi | Lieutenant General | | |
| Shim Sang-hun | Lieutenant General | | |
| Min Young-hwan | Lieutenant General | | |
| Shim Sang-hun | Lieutenant General | | |
| Min Byeong-seok | Lieutenant General | | |
| Yun Ung-nyeol | Lieutenant General | | |
| Min Byeong-seok | Lieutenant General | | |
| Min Young-cheol | Lieutenant General | | |
| Shin Gi-seon | Lieutenant General | | |
| Yi Geun-taek | Lieutenant General | | |
| Yi Bong-ui | Lieutenant General | | |
| Yun Ung-nyeol | Lieutenant General | | |
| Min Young-cheol | Lieutenant General | | |
| Yi Yong-ik | Lieutenant General | | |
| Yun Ung-nyeol | Lieutenant General | | |
| Min Young-gi | Lieutenant General | | |
| Yi Yun-yong | Lieutenant General | | |
| Yi Jong-geon | Lieutenant General | | |
| Gwon Jung-hyeon | Lieutenant General | | |
| Yi Yong-ik | Lieutenant General | | |
| Shim Sang-hun | Lieutenant General | | |
| Gwon Jung-hyeon | Lieutenant General | | |
| Yi Geun-taek | Lieutenant General | | |
| Gwon Jung-hyeon | Lieutenant General | 25 November 1906 | |
| Yi Byeong-mu | Lieutenant General | 22 May 1907 | Annexation of Korea |

## Sources

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* 1 2 "조선왕조실록". sillok.history.go.kr. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
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* ↑ "한국사데이터베이스". db.history.go.kr. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
* ↑ "군기창(軍器廠)". Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
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* 1 2 3 4 5 조선·대한제국 관보. "詔曰國不可無兵兵不可無制現行元帥府軍部官制與諸般規程".
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* 1 2 조선·대한제국 관보. "軍部官制".
* ↑ 조선·대한제국 관보. "4月1日".
* ↑ 조선·대한제국 관보. "11月1日, 11月3日".
* ↑ 조선·대한제국 관보. "11月11日, 1月4日, 1月6日, 1月7日".
* ↑ 조선·대한제국 관보. "3月30日, 3月31日".
* ↑ 조선·대한제국 관보. "4月21日, 4月22日".
* ↑ 조선·대한제국 관보. "7月19日, 7月20日, 7月21日, 7月22日, 7月23日, 7月7日".
* ↑ 조선·대한제국 관보. "9月25日, 9月26日, 9月27日, 9月28日".
* 1 2 조선·대한제국 관보. "2月4日, 2月6日".
* ↑ 조선·대한제국 관보. "3月15日, 3月16日, 3月17日, 3月18日".
* ↑ 조선·대한제국 관보. "3月16日, 3月17日, 3月18日".
* ↑ 조선·대한제국 관보. "7月30日, 7月31日, 8月1日".
* ↑ 조선-대한제국 관보. "2月22日, 2月27日, 2月28日, 3月1日, 3月2日, 3月3日".
* ↑ 조선-대한제국 관보. "6月17日".
* ↑ 조선-대한제국 관보. "詔曰命陸軍參將嚴柱益爲軍部協辦".
* ↑ 조선-대한제국 관보. "禮式院掌禮卿南廷哲辭職疏".
* ↑ 조선-대한제국 관보. "受勅及受牒".
* ↑ 조선-대한제국 관보. "6月6日, 6月7日".
* ↑ 조선-대한제국 관보. "5月10日, 6月14日, 6月16日, 6月17日, 6月18日, 6月19日, 6月1日".
* ↑ 조선·대한제국 관보. "詔曰命陸軍副將閔泳綺爲軍部大臣陸軍參將嚴柱益爲軍部協辦陸軍參將金昇圭爲軍務局長".
* ↑ 조선-대한제국 관보. "9月30日".
* ↑ 조선·대한제국 관보. "參謀部副長尹雄烈辭職疏".
* ↑ 조선·대한제국 관보. "4月1日".
* ↑ 조선·대한제국 관보. "4月23日".
* ↑ 조선·대한제국 관보. "11月25日".
* ↑ 조선·대한제국 관보. "5月22日".