Leading to Victory in Jinju Battle

Every Saturday, the changing of the guard ceremony takes place at Jinju Castle in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province. It’s the historic place that came under heavy attack from Japanese invaders for six days in October 1592. Thanks to airtight defenses and brilliant operations, a small army of 3,800 Korean soldiers was able to defeat the 20,000 Japanese forces.

The Battle of Jinju is considered one of the three most important battles of the seven-year war with Japan in the late 16th century, along with the Battle of Hansan Island, and the Battle of Haengju(행주). The commander who led Koreans to victory in the Battle of Jinju is country magistrate Kim Si-min.


Defending the country with Outstanding Martial Arts Skills

Kim Si-min was born in 1554 in Mokcheon(목천), which is present-day Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province. From childhood, he showed outstanding martial arts skills. He passed the national military examination in 1578 when he was 25 years old, and became a training official. When Nitangjie from the Jurchen tribe crossed the Tumen River to invade Korea in 1583, Kim made a contribution to defeating the enemy, along with other prominent generals such as Shin Rip(신립) and Yi Sun-shin.

Kim worked at the government office where weapons were made, but he resigned due to conflict with the Minister of War. Kim led a quiet life in a remote village for a long time before he was appointed as official in Jinju in 1591. The following year, Japanese invasion of Korea or the Imjin War started.


Excellent Strategist

When the war broke out, Kim urged his men to risk their lives to defend the fortress. But his soldiers were far outnumbered by the Japanese troops.

Still, Kim was well versed in tactics. He manufactured gunpowder and firearms modeled after Japanese ones, and ordered elite troops to learn how to use them. He also had the weak and elderly inside the castle disguise themselves as men in a show of force. He set up scarecrows that looked like soldiers shooting arrows on the castle, and waited for the Japanese to attack them as they mistook them for enemy soldiers. When the Japanese troops were exhausted, Kim finally ordered his men to attack them.

Around the time when Japanese forces lost a lot of warriors and weapons, the righteous army led by General Gwak Jae-u(곽재우) also threatened the enemy outside the castle, pretending to be large-scale assistant forces.

Kim’s small army eventually overpowered the massive Japanese forces. No doubt, much of the credit goes to Kim’s excellent military tactics.


Worrying about the Nation until the Last Moment

On the sixth and last day of the battle, Kim’s forces launched an all-out attack to suppress the enemy. While Kim was on patrol in the castle, one of the fallen Japanese soldiers suddenly got up and shot at Kim.

Kim asked his men not to tell anybody about his injury as he lay sick in bed. Even when he was suffering, he was worried about the future of his country and shed tears. In a few days, he passed away. He was 39.

In October 1592, the entire nation cried and mourned the death of the young general who defended the country with remarkable military tactics.

In 1711, in recognition of his distinguished service, the nation gave him the posthumous title of Chungmugong(충무공), meaning lord of loyalty and warfare.