임진왜란 시기 거제 진공작전의 경과와 의미

Abstract

During the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592, Geoje was a strategic point for both Joseon and Japan. The Japanese troops occupied it early and made it an outpost for them. As the war came to a lull, Joseon's royal court tried to recapture Geoje over the course of peace negotiations, but there was no good idea. The Japanese troops were stationed in every major port and harbor of Geoje, preventing a call of the Joseon Naval Forces, and it was not easy to attack due to the strong fortress built by Japan there. Moreover, the Ming troops command(明軍), which was leading the peace negotiations, was preventing Joseon from attacking the Japanese forces. In the midst of this, an offensive battle against the Japanese army in Geoje took place under the leadership of the Joseon War Command. Between late September and early October in 1594, Joseon's royal forces and the army raised for the cause of justice, known as Euibyeong, joined forces to attack the camp of the Japanese army located in the northwestern part of Geoje Island. This battle is called the Geoje Advance Operation. Specifically, Joseon's naval forces, royal forces, and Euibyeong attacked the Japanese army at Jangmunpo in Geojedo Island in unison under the command of Dowonsu Gwon-yu(權慄), Tongjaesa Yi Sun-shin(李舜臣), and Euibyeong leaders Gwak Jae-woo(郭再祐) and Kim Deok-ryeong(金德齡). The battle is known as the Jangmunpo Naval Battle in previous studies. However, this study found that this battle was not only a naval battle, but also a land battle and a first-ever battle fought by the army, naval forces, and Euibyeong soldiers together under the leadership of the royal court of Joseon. Although the battle was recognized as reckless from the beginning, the then Samdochaechalsa Yoon Du-soo(尹斗壽) pushed ahead with it. As expected, the battle ended up only causing damage to Joseon without any military gains. The operation was carried out partly because of a miscalculation of the enemy's capabilities. Also, the Ming forces withdrew from Joseon when the attack was launched. Previously, it was difficult to strike the Japanese troops due to the interference of the Ming troops. The battle helped Joseon to recognize its combat capabilities as well as those of the Japanese troops. In other words, the Geoje Advance Operation served as an opportunity to prove how weak Joseon's power to fight against the enemy was as well as reflecting on its ability to overcome the war.