First Battle of Jinju

개요

The First Battle of Jinju (Jinju Great Victory) was fought for six days, from the 5th to the 10th day of the 10th lunar month of 1592 (November 8–13 in the solar calendar), at Jinju Fortress, the central stronghold of Gyeongsang Right Province. The Joseon forces of about 3,800 men led by Jinju Magistrate Kim Si-min, supported by righteous army (uibyeong) units from outside the walls, held off a major Japanese offensive. The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture counts this battle, together with the Battle of Hansan Island and the Battle of Haengju, among the three great victories of the Imjin War.

배경

Jinju was a key defensive point guarding the route from Gyeongsang Right Province into Jeolla Province and the fertile plains beyond. As the righteous armies and government forces disrupted Japanese forces in Gyeongsang Right Province, the Japanese sought to capture Jinju, pacify the region, and open the road to Jeolla Province. Japanese forces stationed in the Gimhae and Changwon area took Changwon in late September and then advanced toward Jinju. The Japanese army is said to have numbered around 20,000 men and was led by Hasegawa Hidekazu, Nagaoka (Hosokawa) Tadaoki, Kimura Shigekore, and others.

Kim Si-min, who had served as a pangwan (assistant magistrate), became magistrate and made preparations for defense by repairing the fortress and producing gunpowder and cannons. Yi Kwang-ak, magistrate of Gonyang County, and others entered the fortress and defended it together with him.

경과

• October 5: Japanese forces reached the east side of Jinju Fortress and surrounded it. Kim Si-min is said to have had the elderly, the sick, and women in the fortress dress in men's clothing to make the garrison appear larger.
• October 6–8: The Japanese built ladders of woven bamboo and tall towers (sandae), attached them to the walls, and attacked while firing arquebuses. The Joseon forces resisted with artillery such as the hyeonja chongtong cannon, arrows, stones, boiling water, and burning straw thrown down onto the attackers.
• Support from outside the walls: Righteous army units sent by Kwak Jae-woo and forces that came from Jeolla Province raised torches and shouted from the mountains outside the fortress, threatening the rear of the Japanese army.
• Dawn of October 10: The Japanese launched a final all-out assault toward the East Gate and North Gate. Kim Si-min fought at the front and was struck in the forehead by a bullet and fell. Yi Kwang-ak, magistrate of Gonyang County, and others took over command and repelled the Japanese.