고대 동해안 지역의 정치적 동향과 우산국

Abstract

The east coast region became an important channel between the northern and southern parts of the Korean Peninsula as the early tribal groups of ancient Korea formed political communities and started to exchange with one another. It was soon after that when the east coast region emerged as the venue of exchange and competition among the early political forces. It is likely that Ulreung Island must have exercised some influence on its political movements as the source of unknown power in the process. It is known that the people of Okjeo regarded Ulreung Island as a foreign island in the middle 3rd century. Such a perception seems to have been shared among Koguryo, Dongye, and Jin and Byeon Han that engaged in active exchanges with one another in the northern and southern areas along the eastern coast. Koguryo advanced into the east coast as early as the 1st century and put Okjeo under its influence. It moved to rule even Dongye in the former half of the 3rd century and made full-scale contacts with Silla in the stage of Saroguk in the middle 3rd century. Growing into the leading power of Jin-Han Alliance, Saroguk made an early advance into the east coast, reaching even Gangreung and Samcheok at the end of the 4th century. The two countries maintained friendly relationships in the east coast area with Koguryo having the upper hand those days. Entering the middle and late 5th century, however, Silla grew out of Koguryo's influence and searched for its independent growth. Thus full-blown military confrontations occurred in the east coast region. Overcoming the attacks from Koguryo, Silla introduced Jugun system in the early 6th century during the reign of King Jijeung and set up Shiljik and Haseula Ju first in the east coast region, which was the result of its perception that the region was directly connected to its fate. In addition, it ruled Woosanguk in the region, thus stabilizing the ruling of the region. Woosanguk was the last key to the stable ruling of the region. There is no record about Woosanguk in literature after the unification of the three kingdoms, but its roles can be inferred from the active exchanges among the ancient states, societies, and people in the pan-east coast region.