임진왜란 직전 조선의 국방 인식과 대응에 대한 재검토 - 동북방 여진에 대한 대응을 중심으로 -

Abstract

Prior studies on the night before Hideyoshi invaded Korea present the following evaluations regarding the cause of the war. The first theory is so-called a theory of peace and tranquility that Joseon enjoyed a peaceful reign for two centuries since its founding. The second theory is a theory of Joseon's crisis due to Japan that Japan's threat became serious as to trigger Lee Yulgok's argument of nurturing 100,000 soldiers. The third theory is that only the pen was placed importance on, thereby weakening military discipline. Were they true?First, small wars were occurring in northeastern areas in the 1580s and therefore Joseon was already in quasi-war. The 1583 January rebellion by Nitangeu from Yeojin against the Joseon government in Six Garrisons (Yukjin) lasted until July and Nitangeu's army consisted of 20,000 horse riding soldiers. Therefore the government had to send 100,000 seoks of crop and 50,000 rolls of cloth for the war, and King Seonjo even ordered to make chongtong firearms by melting the bronze temple bell (beomjong) of a temple in Hasamdo. In 1587 and 1588 Yeojin's invasion into Nokdundo and Joseon's response to it continued to make crises. In short, Joseon was not peaceful and tranquil at all. Second, in the 1580s Joseon regarded that Japan was threatening, but the nation's perception of crisis was resulting not from Japanese regular army's invasion but from Japanese looters' plundering. What Joseon expected was a little bigger riots than the Japanese riots which happened in the year Ulmyo. Therefore the anticipated war zone was the entire south coast, and defending the coast of Jeolla-do was considered important; as a result, Lee Sun-sin was selected as Naval Commander of Left Chŏlla province (Jeolla jwasusa). Third, Generals Sin Rip, Lee Il, and Lee Chun were dismissed due to their blunders, but discussions on their rehabilitation were made, which shows the government's elastic flexibility of prioritizing national defense while applying punishment to blunderers. In order to deal with Nitangeu’ rebellion, the government presided over a massive military special examination to secure a large number of military officials. The government also permitted sons of illegitimate birth to take civil service examinations and made a reform of elevating some public and private salves to the class of ordinary people. As for the ruling class, more responsibilities were imposed on them; for example, rice for soldiers and cows and horses as vehicles were made to be provided by them. In brief, the Joseon society was never biased toward the pen, inflexible, off its guard, or disorderly.