Choe Gyeong-seon

Choe Gyeong-seon (崔景善, 1853 – 1895) was a Donghak Peasant Revolution activist in the late Joseon period.

His birth name was Yeongchang (永昌). His courtesy name was Gyeongseon (卿宣). Gyeongseon is also written as 敬善 or 慶善.

Activities

As a Donghak jeopju (接主, local leader), he associated with Jeon Bong-jun, Son Hwa-jung, Kim Gae-nam, Kim Deok-myeong, and others, and sought to transform the Joseon dynasty's system. In November 1893, when Donghak jeopju leaders took the lead in planning a peasant uprising in Gobu, he signed the sabal tongmun (circular letter) together with Jeon Bong-jun, Son Yeo-ok, and others. During the Gobu Rebellion in January 1894, he played a major role, including attacking and seizing the Gobu county office. In mid-March of that year, he rose up in Mujang together with Jeon Bong-jun, Son Hwa-jung, and others, and issued the Changuimun (declaration of righteous cause), launching the peasant war. When the peasant army gathered at Baeksan to organize its units, he became a yeongsoljang (commander) under the chief commander Jeon Bong-jun and fought at the vanguard. On May 7, the Treaty of Jeonju was concluded, and jipgangso (執綱所, local administrative offices) were established in the counties of Jeolla Province. He toured Jangseong, Damyang, Sunchang, Okgwa, Namwon, Changpyeong, Suncheon, and other areas together with Jeon Bong-jun, urging the establishment of the Jipgangso.

When Naju magistrate Min Jong-ryeol refused to allow the establishment of the Jipgangso, he led the peasant army in early July to attack Naju Fortress in alliance with Donghak jeopju Oh Gwon-seon (吳權善) of Naju, but the attack failed. On August 13, Jeon Bong-jun negotiated with Min Jong-ryeol, and after the Jipgangso was established, he took charge of the Naju jipgangso. As the crisis of colonization intensified with the Japanese forces' coup at Gyeongbokgung, the peasant army, which had once disbanded, rose again. Together with Jeon Bong-jun, he toured Jeongeup, Jangseong, Damyang, and other areas to reorganize the forces, and also participated by leading the peasant army at Taein.

In September of that year, he obtained intelligence that the Japanese forces would attack the Jeolla coast by sea, and built a defensive line at Gwangju. After the main peasant force was defeated at the Battle of Ugeumchi, he moved north to Wonpyeong and Taein on November 1 together with Son Hwa-jung to join them. After reorganizing the peasant army at Taein, he attacked Naju on November 23 but failed, then attacked Namp'yeong, which also ended in defeat, and moved to Seungju. On November 27, together with Son Hwa-jung, he attacked Gwangju, which had been occupied by government forces, but failed, withdrew, and disbanded his unit.