임진왜란 초기 制勝方略戰法의 작동 방식과 상주 북천전투

One of the key defense strategies of the Chos?n government during the Imjin War, or Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592 was Ches?ng-bangnyak Strategy (Military Strategy for Victory). The strategy had it that major battle fronts should be established at four strategic points. The first front was to be at the military footholds that the Japanese enemy is most likely to attack (Tongnae to Kimhae line), second at the military bases where the army and naval commands were stationed (Ulsan to Ch’angw?n line), third at the provincially critical point (Taegu) and fourth at the strategic points to defend the capital, S?ul (Ch’ungju to Chory?ng-pass line). The focal point of the defense strategy was to prepare the united forces of the government and local troops for full-scale battles against the Japanese at the third and fourth fronts. Ches?ng-bangnyak Strategy did not operated as desired after outbreak of the war. In the face of the unexpected blitz of the Japanese forces, the third front was pushed about 100 kilometers away from originally planned Taegu to Sangju. It resulted in the battle in Pukch?n, Sangju waged on Apr.25, 13 days after the Japanese invasion of Korea. Along with the battle in T’ang?mdae in Ch’ungju, the Pukch?n battle was the culmination of the strategy. However, the battle ended up with crushing defeat of the Chos?n forces. The reasons of the defeat are as follows. First of all, Patrol Command in Chief (Sunby?nsa) Yi Il insisted on the traditional cavalry tactics. He chose the plain field as battle ground for cavalry charges. However, the plain field was more advantageous to the Japanese force sarmed with better firearms, dealing a crushing blow to the Chos?n forces. Second reason was the sheer imbalance of the combatant strengths of Korea and Japan. While the major forces of Chos?n was composed of about 800-900 servicemen stationed in local camps, including 60 seasoned officers from the central government, Japanese forces had a larger troop of 20,000 soldiers with rich experiences of war. Chos?n’s army was no match for the Japanese due to their inferiority in firearms, tactical mistakes and far smaller number of combatants. T’ang?mdae battle in Ch’ungju was no different from the Pukch?n battle. After the defeats in the two strategically crucial battles, the Chos?n forces lost the will to fight, with King S?njo’s government just fleeing from the war. The two battles had a historical meaning in that they testified to the failure of the defense strategy of Ches?ng-bangnyak Strategy and played a decisive role in putting the Chos?n forces at critical disadvantage in the early phase of the war.