Seo Jae-chang


Seo Jae-chang was a Korean politician, serviceperson, liberal ideologist during the Joseon period. He was a member of the reformist Party. In 1884 he was a participant in the Kapsin Coup. The coup failed and he was arrested and executed. Seo was the younger brother of Philip Jaisohn.

Biography

Jae-chang was born 1866 in Bosong in South Jeolla Province. He was the fourth son of Seo Gwang-ho, governor of Dongbok County and Lady Lee of Seongju. His elder brothers were Jae-chun, Jae-hyung and Jae-pil and his younger brother was Jae-wu. He had two sisters.
He studied in Japan, recommended by Yu Dae-chi and Lee Dong-in. Jae-chang studied sericulture and military science. Later he returned to his country.
In 1884 he adopted a distant relation Seo Sang-wu's adopted son. In January to July, 1884, he returned to Japan. He entered a Toyama military school with Jae-pil, but in July he went to Seoul to plan a revolt with Kim Ok-kyun, Pak Yŏnghyo and other members of Reformist Partys, Hong Yeong-sik, Park Yeong-kyo, Yun Chi-ho, Yun Ung-ryeol, Jae-pil and his father's fifth cousin Soh Kwang-pom.
In October, they undertook the Kapsin Coup in Seoul. Queen Min mobilized Qing dynasty forces, who killed Hong Young-sik and Park Yeong-kyo in battle. The coup failed.
In October 21, Jae-chang escaped, but was seized by the Chinese. He was sent to Seoul prison of Uikeumbu. On December 13, he was executed by firing squad, Gungigam in Seoul. His family was arrested and to imprisonment, with some committing suicide. Only Jae-pil escaped on a Japanese boat to exile in Tokyo.

Family

  • Father
  • * Seo Gwang-hyo
  • ** Adoptive Father - Seo Gwang-rae
  • Mother
  • * Lady Yi of the Seongju Yi clan
  • Siblings
  • * Older sister - Lady Seo of the Daegu Seo clan
  • * Older half-brother - Seo Jae-hyeong
  • * Older brother - Seo Jae-chun
  • * Older brother - Seo Jae-pil ; adopted by Seo Gyeong-ha
  • * Younger brother - Seo Jae-woo
  • * Younger sister - Seo Gi-seok
  • Wife and children
  • * Lady Kim of the Andong Kim clan
  • ** Adoptive son - Seo Chan-seok ; son of his younger cousin Seo Jae-yeong
  • *** Adoptive Daughter-in-law - Lady Yun of the Haepyeong Yun clan
  • **** Adoptive grandson - Seo Jeong-won
  • **** Adoptive grandson - Seo Yeong-won
  • ***** Adoptive granddaughter-in-law - Lady Shin of the Goryeong Shin clan
  • Concubine and children
  • * Lady Cho of the Pyongyang Cho clan
  • ** Unnamed son
  • *** Grandson - Seo Hui-won