Kwŏn Yul (general)

Lore & Background

Kwŏn Yul hailed from the prestigious Andong Kwŏn clan; his father, Kwŏn Ch'ŏl, was the yeonguijeong. He did not begin his political or military career until he was 46. In 1582, he was first appointed to a position in the Korean government and promoted to several different positions including the mayor of Uiju in 1591. When the Japanese forces invaded Korea in 1592, Kwŏn was appointed the mayor of Gwangju, Jeolla province and given the military command of the region. At the Battle of Ichi, about 1,000 of Kwŏn's men fought and won against ten thousand Japanese troops under Kobayakawa Takakage. Kwŏn supervised his unit by executing deserters personally, and his vanguard commander Hwang Chin kept fighting despite a gunshot injury. At the Siege of Doksan, Japanese forces led by Ukita Hideie laid siege to the fort for one month, and Kwŏn's army was running out of water supplies. One day, Kwŏn ordered several war horses to be brought on the fort wall and washed with grains of rice. From a distance, it looked like the horses were bathed with plenty of water. The Japanese, who were waiting for the fort's water supply to run out, lost their spirits and retreated to Seoul. Kwŏn chased the retreating Japanese, inflicting heavy casualties of over 3,000 men. After the war, the king Seonjo built a monument on the top of Doksan named Semadae (세마대; 洗馬臺), 'the place where horses were washed', as a tribute to Kwŏn. At the Battle of Haengju, Kwŏn's entire unit was no more than 2,800 men. Japanese commanders Katō Kiyomasa and Ukita Hideie attacked Haengju fortress with 30,000 men. The Japanese, with over 10,000 casualties and top generals Ukita, Ishida Mitsunari, and Kikkawa Hiroie wounded, were compelled to retreat. After the battle, he kept his position until the peace talks began. Then he moved to Jeolla province, and from then on, Kwŏn Yul became the Dowonsu, the Commander-in-chief of Korean forces. He was briefly removed from office due to his harsh treatment of deserters, but was restored back again in the following year. He ordered the Admiral of the Navy, Wŏn Kyun, to battle the Japanese in the Battle of Chilchonryang, which was won by Japanese. However, Admiral Yi Sun-sin was able to defeat the Japanese navy under Todo Takatora in the Battle of Myeongnyang. In 1597, Kwŏn and the Chinese commander Ma Gui planned to combat the Japanese in Ulsan, but the Chinese commander-in-chief ordered Kwŏn to withdraw. Then Kwŏn tried to attack the Japanese in Suncheon, but the idea was again rejected by the Chinese. After the war, Kwŏn retired from all of his posts and eventually died on July 6, 1599. After his death, he was given the posthumous title of Yeonguijeong, and awarded the title of the Ildŭng Sŏnmu Kongsin (일등선무공신; 一等宣武功臣) along with Yi Sun-sin and Wŏn Kyun.

Reader's Guide

Kwŏn Yul's significance lies in his decisive victories during the Japanese invasions of Korea, which helped preserve Joseon independence. His most famous achievement, the Battle of Haengju, demonstrated exceptional defensive tactics against overwhelming odds, using Korean anti-personnel gunpowder weapons called hwachas and explosive cannon shells called heaven-shaking explosive shell (비격진천뢰; 飛擊震天雷). The Siege of Doksan showcased his psychological warfare, tricking the Japanese into believing his fort had ample water by washing horses with grains of rice on the fort wall. His career, beginning late in life at age 46, illustrates that effective military leadership could emerge from non-traditional paths. Kwŏn's legacy is cemented by posthumous honors: he was granted the title of Yeonguijeong and named Ildŭng Sŏnmu Kongsin alongside Yi Sun-sin and Wŏn Kyun. The monument Semadae at Doksan remains a tribute to his cunning. His actions, including personally executing deserters at the Battle of Ichi, reflect the harsh realities of wartime command. Kwŏn's role in coordinating with Chinese forces, though sometimes overruled—such as when the Chinese commander-in-chief ordered him to withdraw from Ulsan in 1597—shows the complex alliance dynamics of the conflict. Overall, he is remembered as a key defender of Korea during a critical period.

Did You Know?

• Kwŏn Yul did not begin his political or military career until he was 46 years old.
• At the Siege of Doksan, he tricked Japanese forces by washing war horses with grains of rice on the fort wall to make it look like his army had plenty of water.
• King Seonjo built a monument called Semadae ('the place where horses were washed') at Doksan as a tribute to Kwŏn.
• At the Battle of Haengju, Kwŏn's forces used hwachas and explosive cannon shells called heaven-shaking explosive shell (비격진천뢰).
• After his death, Kwŏn was awarded the title of Ildŭng Sŏnmu Kongsin (一等宣武功臣) alongside Yi Sun-sin and Wŏn Kyun.