고려 원종대 대원(對元) 교섭에서의 ‘송(宋)’의 의미

Abstract

King Wonjong of Goryeo inherited from his father Gojong a specific situation in which the Southern Sung was no longer a relevant entity as a potential ally or at least a counterpart to be expected in a diplomatic relationship. Merchants or naval vessels either sporadically visiting or passing by the Korean peninsula were mere objects of concern in the eyes of the Goryeo government, and the Chinese authorities in the harbor regions of the Jiangnan region were not so interested in maintaining exchanges with the Goryeo dynasty. The entire Southern Sung was put under heavy fire in its conflict with the Mongol Yuan empire, and was anything but a probable ally to Goryeo which was fighting with the Mongols itself. Economic trades with Southern Sung only meant more materials (that came from China) to be obfuscated by the Mongols. To Goryeo, Southern Sung was no longer an option to pursue in diplomatic terms. Under such circumstances, Wonjong came to face interference and intervention by the Mongol Yuan government. The highest priority of the Wonjong government became protecting the interests of Goryeo from such interference. There was nothing the leaders of the Goryeo dynasty would not consider in achieving such goal. So, Southern Sung suddenly became a leverage in Goryeo’s strategy dealing with the Mongols. The Mongol Yuan government was in desperate need of Goryeo’s cooperation in launching its campaign in China and Japan. And for that very reason it was also deeply concerned that Goryeo would try to break away from Yuan’s clutches and form a relationship with China, as it had done in the past. Noticing such concern and Yuan’s own busy timetable, Wonjong, while denying any possibility or intention of forming a relationship with the Southern Sung whenever Yuan would accuse it for scheming behind Yuan’s back, seemingly intentionally had one of his closest officials (in this case Yi Jang-yong) leak some official statements that would arouse Yuan’s suspicion, while himself excluding in a report a crucial incident that occurred between Goryeo and Sung that could have easily nullified Yuan’s suspicion of Goryeo. Such orchestrated efforts seem to have been a campaign of ‘disinformation’, designed to keep Yuan on its toes, force the Mongols to back off from making unilateral threats and demands, and most importantly, delay the Japanese campaign for several years.