임진왜란 초기 봉화 小川 전투의 전개와 전쟁사적 의미

Abstract

When the Japanese Fourth Army invaded the northern area of Gyeongsang-do, the armies under Lyu Jong-gae’s(柳宗介) command fought in the battle of Bonghwa Socheon and held the line. This article focuses on the development of this battle and appreciates influence of the battle upon the military situations of the rest of war years. In the early state of the Imjin War, Lyu Jong-gae’s righteous armies(義兵) of several hundreds volunteers defeated the invaders, leading to them being discouraged for a while. Lyu’s units blocked Japanese armies’ advance on the northern inner area of Gyeongsang-do for three days, although they ended up being ambushed and vanquished by Japanese invaders. Thanks to the battle of Bonghwa Socheon, other Joseon armies gathering near Andong were given a few days to organize their array for defense. The military importance of the battle of Bonghwa Socheon lies in that it frustrated Japanese strategic goals that they connect Gangwon-do with Gyeongsang-do and bring these areas under control. Joseon armies, now had the footing of Northern Gyeongsang-do, engaged in a counterattack against Japanese armies and made them withered away in Gyeongsang-do. Therefore, it can be said that the battles occurred in the northern part of Gyeongsang-do played a critical role in tipping the balance in favor of Joseon during the early years of the Imjin War.