Learn How to Change Habits from the Korean Revolt of 1882
Understanding Your Brain Is the First Step for Habit Change
We’ve all felt the sting of trying to change a habit and falling short.
You promise yourself you’ll hit the gym, then snooze your alarm. You plan to eat better, but a late-night burger wins again.
These moments aren’t just slip-ups. They reflect an internal clash that isn’t so different from battles in history.
Take the 1882 Korean Revolt. Seoul erupted when reformists pushed for modernization, and conservatives fought to preserve tradition.
That same struggle happens in your brain when you try to replace old habits with better ones.
By looking at this historical clash—and others like it—we can better understand why habit change is so hard, and how to make it stick.
The Korean Revolt of 1882
In July 1882, soldiers from Korea’s traditional army revolted.
This wasn’t about a foreign invasion or grassroots rebellion. It was a high-stakes internal conflict between two groups:
Reformists, like Queen Min and her allies, pushed to modernize Korea’s military using Japanese models.
Conservatives, led by King Gojong’s father (the Heungseon Daewongun), defended Confucian values and old systems.
The reformists formed the Pyŏlgigun, a new elite unit trained by Japanese officers and paid regularly. To them, modernization meant survival.
But to the older troops, it felt like betrayal. Their pay was delayed. Their rice was spoiled. And now they were being sidelined.
On July 23, fed up soldiers rioted, attacked officials, and stormed the Japanese legation. The Daewongun briefly seized control, but Qing Dynasty troops quickly stepped in and restored order.
Though short-lived, the revolt exposed the depth of resistance to change—and the cost of pushing forward too fast without bringing everyone along.
This same pushback happened in other countries:
Russia, 1881: Tsar Alexander II introduced reforms like freeing the serfs. He was assassinated by radicals who wanted even more change, while conservatives resented the loss of power.
China, 1899–1901: The Boxer Rebellion saw traditionalists violently reject Western ideas and reforms.
Ottoman Empire, 1908: The Young Turk Revolution tried to bring constitutional rule back, but old guard resistance kept stirring unrest.
Each case is a version of the same pattern: reformists press ahead, conservatives resist, and conflict erupts.
Applying Historical Lessons to Personal Habit Change
Your brain has reformists and conservatives too.
The reformist side wants change—better fitness, stronger focus, more fulfillment.
The conservative side wants comfort—sleep, snacks, whatever is easy and familiar.
You’re not lazy. You’re wired this way.
That’s why real habit change takes more than motivation. It takes strategy.
Here are four ways to make it work, drawn from these historical turning points:
Borrow Proven Strategies—but Make Them Yours
Korea’s reformists copied Japan’s success. You can do the same with habit tactics like habit stacking (pairing a new habit with something you already do) or using an accountability buddy.
But if something feels too “foreign” to your personality, adjust it. Don’t like fitness groups? Use an app. Hate tracking calories? Plan meals instead. The key is to make the new habit feel like it belongs.
Watch for Emotional Roadblocks
The revolt started not because of ideas, but emotions: hunger, anger, disrespect.
Your habit changes get derailed the same way. Stress, boredom, self-doubt—these are emotional triggers that pull you off track.
If stress sends you to the snack drawer, try walking, journaling, or calling a friend instead. Swap the pattern, not just the outcome.
Blend Change with What’s Familiar
The Young Turks didn’t erase the old system. They reinstated an old constitution to gain support.
You can do this too. Pair your new habits with routines you already like.
Add vegetables to a favorite dish. Walk while listening to your favorite podcast. The shift feels smaller, but it sticks better.
Treat Setbacks Like Data
The Imo Incident didn’t end Korea’s modernization. It just showed how not to do it.
Missing a workout or grabbing fast food doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
Ask why. Were you tired? Did you overreach? That reflection is fuel for the next attempt.
Small failures are inevitable. Learning from them is optional.
Habit change isn’t about force. It’s about understanding the system you're working within—and making that system work for you.
Ignore the resistance and you’ll snap back to the old ways. Respect it, work with it, and change becomes doable.
Conclusion
The Korean Revolt of 1882 wasn’t just a political event—it was a real-time lesson in how hard change can be.
And how important it is to understand the resistance you’re up against.
Like Queen Min’s reformists, the part of your brain that wants progress needs a plan.
And like the Daewongun’s conservatives, the part that resists change needs to feel safe.
Use proven strategies, make space for emotion, respect your routines, and treat failure like feedback.
That’s how lasting change happens.
Not overnight.
But step by step—like any meaningful reform.