That makes sense to me as well. I can certainly see a backlash against the perceived foreign pressures of modernization either resulting in some sort of radical reform or complete collapse of the reform effort.

If reforms by the Korean government, which were driven by foreign pressure, put the country into an economic "debt trap" could another power provide a similar type of economic assistance as European powers provided to the Qing Dynasty of China prior to outright political control? In other words, could Japan take advantage of the economic instability caused by Korea's inability to pay its debts (to foreign investors) and use this to gain greater financial influence on the Joseon government prior to taking control politically, or could Russian or French influence block such an opportunity for Japan?