The article discusses the brutal actions of the Japanese Navy against the Donghak Peasant Army in the late 1800s, particularly through the utilization of a warship named Tsukuba, which was crucial in the oppressive operations along the west and south coasts of Jeolla Province. Renowned researcher Park Maeng-soo reveals that the Tsukuba, a significant naval asset with formidable firepower, was actively engaged in landing operations that resulted in the massacre of peasant soldiers, marking a notable contrast to the operations of the Japanese army and local military forces.

According to Park, the Tsukuba warship, deployed in late 1894 during the second uprising of the Donghak movement, conducted extensive and vicious purge operations even as it faced limited engagement from ground forces. Between October 1894 and early 1895, the Tsukuba's crew systematically hunted down peasant soldiers along significant coastal regions like Gwangyang and Yeosu, often forcing them into dead ends where they were met with artillery and rifle fire. This systematic approach led to severe casualties among the peasant army, with Park emphasizing the heavy toll inflicted by the Japanese Navy’s military capabilities in the region.

The account sheds light on the importance of naval power in suppressive operations during that period, illustrating how the Tsukuba warship’s presence compounded the struggles faced by the peasant army against an overwhelmingly well-armed Japanese force. The historical perspectives presented by Park raise important discussions regarding the narratives surrounding the Donghak Uprising and the broader implications of colonial military strategies employed during the late 19th century in Korea.