Jo Wi-chong's Rebellion

Overview

Jo Wi-chong's Rebellion was an uprising launched in 1174 (the 4th year of King Myeongjong) by Jo Wi-chong (趙位寵), Governor of Seogyeong (西京留守), in Seogyeong (present-day Pyongyang) against the military regime. It lasted about three years and at one point threatened areas close to Gaegyeong, but it ended in the 6th lunar month of 1176, when Seogyeong fell and Jo Wi-chong was beheaded. The Korean Encyclopedia of Culture treats it as the largest anti-military resistance of the military regime period. (The dates in this article are lunar dates.)

Background

After the failure of the Kim Bodang's Rebellion in 1173, the deposed King Uijong was murdered in Gyeongju, and many civil officials were massacred. According to the Korean Encyclopedia of Culture, Jo Wi-chong raised troops on the charge that Yi Ui-bang had killed Uijong and then failed to give him a proper funeral. Alongside a sense of crisis about the military regime, accumulated abuses in the northern regions are also cited as a background to the uprising. His primary goal was to execute the leaders of the ruling military officials, such as Jeong Jung-bu and Yi Ui-bang.

Course of Events

Uprising and Early Advantage (1174)

According to the entry for autumn of the 9th month of the 4th year of Myeongjong in the Goryeosa jeolyo (高麗史節要), Jo Wi-chong circulated proclamations to the many towns of Donggye and Bukgye, and more than 40 towns north of Jeolryeong (岊嶺, Jaeryeong) all responded. However, Hyeon Deok-su and his son Hyeon Dam-yun of Yeonju (延州) refused to follow to the end and drove back the Seogyeong forces, becoming a major obstacle to the rebel army.

The court ordered Pyeongjangsa Yun In-cheom to lead troops to suppress the rebellion. However, the government forces were badly defeated at Jeolryeong amid a storm and heavy snow. The rebel army advanced close to Gaegyeong, and Yun In-cheom, who nearly got encircled, barely escaped with the help of Jeong Gyun. In Donggye, Kim Bak-seung and Jo Gwan attacked Hwaju, but Nangjang Yi Geo opened the gates, and Byeongmasa Yi Ui and Byeongmabusa Choe Gyun were killed in battle.

Yi Ui-bang's Counterattack and Death

Yi Ui-bang personally led troops and defeated the rebel army. Choe Suk carried out a surprise attack and won a great victory, and the government forces pursued the enemy to the Daedong River and set up camp outside the walls of Seogyeong. However, they withdrew because of the cold. In the 11th lunar month of 1174, the court made Yun In-cheom Commander-in-chief and Du Gyeong-seung Commander of the Rear Army, and prepared to attack Seogyeong again. Around this time, the monk Jong-cham, acting on the instigation of Jeong Gyun, son of Jeong Jung-bu, assassinated Yi Ui-bang, and power passed to Jeong Jung-bu. King Myeongjong sent Yu Eung-gyu and Sa Jeong-yu to Jo Wi-chong to urge him to surrender.