명량해전 직전 조선 수군의 폐지 문제에 대한 재검토

Abstract

It is widely known that Yi Sun-sin(李舜臣) submitted a Jang-gae(狀啓), in which he wrote ‘Still there are 12 warships’, in opposition to the government's order to abolish the navy ahead of the Battle of Myeongnyang(鳴梁). And some historians claim that the place where the Jang-gae was written was Yeolseonnu(列仙樓) in Boseong(寶城). However, the research of whether this is true or not is still insufficient and there are even counterarguments. This paper intends to consider this issue by examining the records mentioned on the abolition of the navy and various related historical materials. Historical records mentioning ‘Still there are 12 warships’ or ‘the abolition of the navy’ generally described that Yi Sun-sin was ordered to abolish the navy by the government after he took the warships or after the Battle of Eorando(於蘭島). However this description contradicts the views of scholars who claim that Yi Sun-sin wrote the Jang-gae against the abolition of the navy at Yeolseonnu in Boseong. And there is even a record described that the abolition was mentioned by a general, not by the government. According to the article on August 5th 1597 in 『Annals of King Seonjo(宣朝實錄)』, on that day the government made the decision to make the best use of the remaining navy forces, fearing that the sea route would be empty. Therefore it is highly likely that the government's order dated August 7th 1597, which was brought to Boseong(寶城) by a military officer Park Cheon-bong(朴天鳳), was written about the decision of the government. In addition, according to the articles on August 15th and September 5th 1597 in 『Annals of King Seonjo』, the government still sought to utilize the remaining navy forces in the sea, not on land despite the increasingly unfavorable war situation. As far as the naval strategy implemented from the early days of Imjin War(壬辰倭亂) and the troops planned to be dispatched from the Ming Dynasty are considered, there is little possibility that the government ordered the abolition of the navy.