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Yi Gwal's Rebellion was an armed rebellion in the
Joseon dynasty Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and r ...
led by General
Yi Gwal Yi Gwal (1587 – 15 February, 1624) was a general during the Joseon Dynasty, Korea, known for the failed Yi Gwal's Rebellion. His family belonged to the Gosung Yi clan. He rebelled against King Injo in 1624, but failed. Yi Gwal was then kill ...
, who helped Injo ascend to the throne and incited a rebellion against him for being rewarded poorly and trying to arrest his son. He led 12,000 of his soldiers to occupy
Hanseong Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...
and replace him with Heungangun, his royal relative as king. But the Joseon army led by General
Jang Man Jang may refer to: *Jang (Marshall Islands), part of Maloelap Atoll, in the Marshall Islands *Jang, Nepal, a village development committee in the Rapti Zone of western Nepal * Jang, the Tibetan name for Naxi, a county-level district of Luzhou cit ...
( 张晚) retook the capital and crushed the rebellion, preserving King Injo's rule. Yi Gwal was subsequently executed by his own army. Yi Gwal's Rebellion weakened the Korean military, making them vulnerable to the Later Jin's invasion.


Background

Since the establishment of a Confucian dynasty by King Taejo, there had been political disputes between the parties in the government. Some disputes even resulted in bloodshed, like the one which occurred in the time of the king
Yeonsangun Yeonsangun of Joseon or Prince Yeonsan of Joseon (23 November 1476 – 20 November 1506), personal name Yi Yung ( Korean: 이융; Hanja: 李㦕), was the tenth ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. Often considered the worst tyrant in Joseon's ...
. Also, during the time of
King Seonjo Seonjo of Joseon (26 November 1552 – 16 March 1608) was the fourteenth king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea from 1567 to 1608. He was known for encouraging Confucianism and renovating state affairs at the beginning of his reign. However, politi ...
just before the
Japanese invasions of Korea Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...
, the political parties had been divided between East and West. The Eastern Party gradually split up into two parties called the Northern and Southern Parties.


Prelude

On April 11, 1623, the Western faction deposed Gwanghaegun in a coup. The coup directed by
Kim Yu Kim or KIM may refer to: Names * Kim (given name) * Kim (surname) ** Kim (Korean surname) *** Kim family (disambiguation), several dynasties **** Kim family (North Korea), the rulers of North Korea since Kim Il-sung in 1948 ** Kim, Vietnamese ...
took place at night. Gwanghaegun fled but was captured later. The Western faction installed Neungyanggun as the sixteenth king Injo. Injo rewarded the major coup leaders with positions in the king's court. In January 1624, Injo sent Yi Gwal to the Northern front as deputy commander of Yongbyon,
Pyongyang Pyongyang (, , ) is the capital and largest city of North Korea, where it is known as the "Capital of the Revolution". Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River about upstream from its mouth on the Yellow Sea. According to the 2008 populat ...
, Pyongan Province, to fight against the expanding Jin dynasty. Yi Gwal also knew the importance of the new mission and was faithful to his duties, such as military training, maintenance of the castle wall, and strengthening the security of the camp. The Western Party, recently unsatisfied with the success of Yi Gwal (who was part of the Northern Party), petitioned the king stating that Yi Gwal and some members of the Northern Party were planning a rebellion. Injo examined the petition as the ministers had a close relationship with the king. However, the reports proved false, and the Western Party failed to condemn Yi Gwal. The investigation made
Yi Gwal Yi Gwal (1587 – 15 February, 1624) was a general during the Joseon Dynasty, Korea, known for the failed Yi Gwal's Rebellion. His family belonged to the Gosung Yi clan. He rebelled against King Injo in 1624, but failed. Yi Gwal was then kill ...
feel like he was treated unfairly for his part in the Injo Coup. They tried again soon after, which provoked the suspicion of the king. However, Injo ignored the discussion about Yi Gwal but sent an examination and arrest party to Yongbyon to arrest Yi Gwal's son Yi Jeon and bring him to Hanyang. Yi Gwal suspected he would be condemned if his son confessed, he decided on a pre-emptive strike. Finally, he killed the arrest party, and the rebellion officially began on January 22, 1624.


Rebellion

Yi Gwal Yi Gwal (1587 – 15 February, 1624) was a general during the Joseon Dynasty, Korea, known for the failed Yi Gwal's Rebellion. His family belonged to the Gosung Yi clan. He rebelled against King Injo in 1624, but failed. Yi Gwal was then kill ...
rescued Han Myeong-Ryun in the middle of the road, who was being transported to Seoul on charges of conspiracy, and joined the rebellion. Myeong-Ryun was a skilled operative, and from then on, the two formed a close relationship with each other and took command of the rebels. On January 22, Yi Gwal left Yongbyon with about 100 Hang-wae soldiers (Japanese who defected to Joseon during
Japanese invasions of Korea Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...
) as his vanguard and 10,000 troops under his command. He evaded Pyongyang, where Do Won-su and Jang-man were stationed, and marched straight toward Seoul by a side road. At that time, Jang Man obtained information about Yi Gwal's rebellion, but his troops were only a few thousand, and he could not afford to fight head-on with Yi Gwal's elite army. The rebels of Yi Gwal went through Gaecheon and Jasan, were stationed in Sinchang, Gangdong, on the 26th, and changed their course to Sangwon on the 28th. The first clash with the government troops happened in the
Hamgyong Hamgyong Province () was one of the Eight Provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. Hamgyŏng was located in the northeast of Korea. The provincial capital was Hamhŭng. Names The province was first established as Yonggil ( ko, 영길, , '' ...
province, where the government troops were being led by his close friends, Jeong Chung-sin and Nam Yi-hong. He tried to avoid these two generals and surpassed their troops. Yi Gwal first engaged the government forces at Shingyo in Hwangju and captured and killed the general, Park Yeong-Seo, and his officers. Yi Gwal's march was so fast that, in many cases, the military could not confirm his whereabouts. During the march to the capital,
Yi Gwal Yi Gwal (1587 – 15 February, 1624) was a general during the Joseon Dynasty, Korea, known for the failed Yi Gwal's Rebellion. His family belonged to the Gosung Yi clan. He rebelled against King Injo in 1624, but failed. Yi Gwal was then kill ...
defeated a regular army under the command of General
Jang Man Jang may refer to: *Jang (Marshall Islands), part of Maloelap Atoll, in the Marshall Islands *Jang, Nepal, a village development committee in the Rapti Zone of western Nepal * Jang, the Tibetan name for Naxi, a county-level district of Luzhou cit ...
and surrounded
Hanseong Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...
in what is known as the Battle of Jeotan. Yi Gwal then passed Gaeseong and surprise attacked the government forces guarding the Imjin river and defeated them. Injo protected by the Royal Guards Command (Eoyeongcheong), fled to
Gongju Gongju ([]; Gongju-si) is a city in South Chungcheong province, South Korea. History Gongju was formerly named Ungjin and was the capital of Baekje from AD 475 to 538. In this period, Baekje was under threat from Goguryeo. Goguryeo had overrun ...
, and
Hanseong Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...
fell into the hands of the rebels on February 10, making it the first time a rebel army had captured the capital since the establishment of the Joseon dynasty. On February 11, 1624,
Yi Gwal Yi Gwal (1587 – 15 February, 1624) was a general during the Joseon Dynasty, Korea, known for the failed Yi Gwal's Rebellion. His family belonged to the Gosung Yi clan. He rebelled against King Injo in 1624, but failed. Yi Gwal was then kill ...
enthroned Prince Heungan (興安君, 흥안군), son of King Seongjo as king and set up guards in Hanyang. At the same time, they established a new administrative system. Moreover, he put fliers all over the city so the people would support his troops. However, the rebel occupation of the capital did not last long.
Hanseong Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...
was soon threatened by General Do Won-su, Jang Man, and other generals from the government forces and the provincial armies. General Jang Man returned with another regiment and reached the suburbs of Hanyang. After deliberation, they encamped at Gilmajae, which is advantageous in terms of topography. The next day, Yi Gwal learned of this movement and sent Han Myeong-Ryun to combat the enemy, he divided his army into two to surround and attack the government forces, but they lost the battle due to their inferior geographical position. As a result, Yi Gwal and Han Myeong-Ryun evacuated the capital with hundreds of rebels, escaped to Sugumun Gate, and fled to Gwangju via Samjeondo under cover of night. The Central Army recaptured the capital soon after. In pursuit of the government forces, the Yi Gwal ordered the rebel army to scatter. On the night of February 15, when they reached Mukbang-ri in Icheon, Yi Gwal and Han Myung-Ryun were murdered by their troops and generals led by Gi Ik-Heon, who were seeking forgiveness from the government, therefore, ending the rebellion.


Aftermath

News of Yi Gwal's death and others reached the residence of Gongju, and Injo returned on February 22. After Injo returned to Korea, he rewarded 32 people, including Jang Man, Jeong Chung-sin, and Nam Yi-Heung, who contributed to the rebellion of Yi Gwal as Jinmu Gong-sin (振武功臣), and prepared a plan to rectify the rebellion. However, Yi Gwa's rebellion considerably impacted the domestic and international situation at the time. On the inside, it was the first time the king had left Seoul due to a domestic rebellion, and it shocked the ruling class and the general public. After the rebellion, Injo established two military camps, the Command of the Northern Approaches (''Chongyungcheong''), and the Royal Defense Command (''Sueocheong''). The Royal Guards Command had 260 artillery troops to defend the city walls of Hanseong and suppress rebellions. It grew to 7,000 troops after the Qing invasion, and during Hyojong's reign, 21,000 troops. The Command of the Northern Approaches defended the northern outskirts of Hanseong through the Bukhansanseong Fortress with 23,500 soldiers. The Royal Defense Command defended to defend south of Hanseong through Namhanseong Fortress with 16,500 troops. Even though Injo was able to keep his throne, Joseon society effectively entered a period of chaos, and the rebellion displayed the weaknesses of royal authority while asserting the superiority of the aristocrats, who had gained even more power by fighting against the rebellion. Public sentiment was not stable for a long time due to the strengthening of temples by the ruling class. When the rebellion failed, Han Myung-Ryun's son Yun and others fled to the Jin dynasty, announcing the unstable situation in the country and encouraging them to invade the south, which provoked and facilitated the
First Manchu invasion of Korea The Later Jin invasion of Joseon occurred in early 1627 when the Later Jin prince Amin led an invasion of the Joseon Dynasty. The war ended after three months with the Later Jin establishing itself as sovereign tributary overlord over Joseon. ...
in 1627. The economy, which was experiencing a slight recovery from
Gwanghaegun Gwanghae-gun or Prince Gwanghae (4 June 1575 – 7 August 1641), personal name Yi Hon (Hangul: 이혼, Hanja: 李琿), was the 15th ruler of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. As he was deposed in a coup d'état, he did not receive a temple name. ...
's reconstruction, was again ruined, and Korea would remain in a poor economic state for a few centuries.


See also

*
Yi Gwal Yi Gwal (1587 – 15 February, 1624) was a general during the Joseon Dynasty, Korea, known for the failed Yi Gwal's Rebellion. His family belonged to the Gosung Yi clan. He rebelled against King Injo in 1624, but failed. Yi Gwal was then kill ...
*
Injo of Joseon Injo of Joseon (7 December 1595 – 17 June 1649), born Yi Jong, was the sixteenth ruler of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He was the grandson of King Seonjo and son of Prince Jeongwon. He was the king during the Later Jin invasion of Joseon, i ...
*
Later Jin invasion of Joseon The Later Jin invasion of Joseon occurred in early 1627 when the Later Jin prince Amin led an invasion of the Joseon Dynasty. The war ended after three months with the Later Jin establishing itself as sovereign tributary overlord over Joseon. ...


References

{{Authority control Conflicts in 1624 Joseon dynasty Rebellions in Asia 17th-century revolutions Protests in Korea