The Re-examination and Historical Significance of the Great Victory of Jeju along Eulmyo Japanese Invasion

Abstract

Eulmyo Japanese Invasion occurred in May 1555(King Myeongjong 10), Japanese raiders with about 70 ships invading on the south coast of Jeollanam-do province. They gathered off the coast of Jeju Island on June 21 of the same year after retreating from Jeolla-do to great damage. About 1,000 Japanese raiders with 40 ships headed straight to Jeju Castle through Hwabukpo port on June 27. There was a three-day battle between Dongsung(east gate) of Jeju Castle and Sanjicheon stream(Namsugak). At that time, Kim soo-moon, a Jeju minister, made the first strike, selecting 70-member special forces(驍勇軍). Four of them including Kim jik-son, Kim sung-jo, Lee hi-joon, Moon si-bong swept the enemy lines riding horses and Kim mong-keun shot an enemy general down with an arrow. Since then, the people of Jeju were standing a good chance of winning and had a great victory, cutting many Japanese pirates off their throats and capturing them. This was not just Jeju’s victory, but it resulted in the final victory of Eulmyo Japanese Invasion in Joseon Dynasty. It played a major role in East Asian peace settlement at that time.