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The Righteous Army Operations in the Samga Area,Gyeongsang U-do Province during the Imjin Japanese Invasion:Focusing on the Righteous Army Leader Yun Tak

윤창현 1 박균열 1

1경상대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This paper is to research Yun Tak who was the Righteous Army Leader in Samga area, Hapcheon where is located in Gyeongsang Province, Korea, and his military operations, and to investigate into his role as the Righteous Army Leader during the Japanese Invasion against Joseon in 1592. As the war broke out in 1592, the Joseon Forces was not ready enough to defend its people and territory against the Japanese invasion effectively. On this account, it was natural that the Righteous Army was involved in that war. At first, almost civilians had not shared defend mental readiness together, leaved their hometown. However, the consistent invasion of the enemy forces and their atrocities made Joseon people arouse the hostile feelings against the Japan. Under unavoidable circumstances, and with the thought that they couldn’t give up their own home and residential site any more, it stood to reasons that the civil army in the cause of Confucian justice had been organized and established. Moreover Gyeongsang U-do, which means the right-side area in Gyeongsang Province, Korea, was the place not only to keep the Honam area for the war rehabilitation to the Joseon Forces, but also to secure the supply routes for the Japanese Forces. Accordingly, it was an important area to both Joseon and Japan strategically. This reasons brought the violent battle, thus many a Righteous Army leaders who engaged in Gyeongsang U-do battles struggled to defend to the last. This battle in the military history was very meaningful in some respects that the Righteous Army harassed the rear of the enemy and dispersed the strength of the Japanese Forces. Gwak Jae-u who founded the first righteous army after the outbreak of the war was looked upon as local insurgents by Gamsa Kim Su and Byeongsa Jo Dae-gon. Gamsa and Byeongsa was a sort of provincial governor of the Joseon at that time. When the Righteous Army Gwak Jae-u lead to fight against the Japanese Forces was attacked by the royal troops, civilian soldiers got scattered. He would also cease a battle against Japan and take the refuge in Jirisan which is located in the southern middle area of Korea. In those days, a newly appointed Choyusa Kim Sung-il met Gwak Jae-u in Danseong area and encouraged him into participating in the war by the guarantee of his military operations. Choyusa Kim’s pivotal role made the Righteous Army operations in that area brought back to life. In addition, the civil army of Kwak Jae-u in Uiryeong area and one of Yun Tak in Samga area became one group and the cooperative military power increased more and more. The righteous army members who came from Samga area had executed special assault operations for not their area but other provinces. Based on the scope of regular operations, that had been never respected higher than other army team at that time. So in making patriotic old veterans policies and researching the Imjin Japanese Invasion, the Samga Righteous Army and its leader Gusan Yun Tak should be reevaluated appropriately.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.