정유재난기 칠천양해전의 배경과 원균 함대의 패전 경위

Abstract

When the Japanese re-invaded the peninsula, they were far more prepared than they were in their previous invasion. To confront the Panok-vessels(板屋船) of the Chosun navy they invested their efforts in developing large scale Antaek-vessels(安宅船), and recruited sailors and soldiers to reinforce their man power. They analyzed the reasons of they earlier defeats, and developed strategies including night-time surprise attacks, strategy & tactics which could be adopted in operations executed simultaneously on land and sea.

Compared to those Japanese efforts, the Chosun government made a critical tactical error by replacing Lee Sun-Sin with another naval admiral. Weon Gyun(元均) at the time. Not only Weon's false incrimination, but also King Seonjo(宣祖)'s own disbelief in Lee Sun-Sin was a very relevant factor to be considered when the final decision was made. Other reasons and factors such as the incendiary fire that broke out at the Japanese headquarters located at Busan(釜山)area, the alienation tactics executed by the Japanese, and the political initiatives the Yun Du-Su(尹斗壽) brothers (supporting Weon Gyun in the process) were all instrumental in deciding the replacement.

This blatant disruption to the chain of command did not go without miserable consequences. The Chosun navy suffered a huge defeat at the Chilcheonryang-engagement(漆川梁海戰), which occurred on July 15-16, 1597(丁酉年).which was a quite obvious, almost foreseen result forcing the Chosun naval forces to lose maritime control of the south-sea area, and to abandon the Jeonra-do(全羅道) area, which left the Gyeonggi(京畿) area, the heart of the Peninsula, very vulnerable to the Japanese forces. The government had no choice but to reinstate Lee Sun-Sin to oversee the rebuilding of the Chosun navy. While Lee was continuing his previous efforts to reinforce the navy, the Japanese navy also literally let the Chosun forces buy some time by unintentionally 'not' launching any more attacks after the Namweonseong battle (南原城戰鬪).