Battle of Jangmunpo

The Battle of Jangmunpo (長門浦海戰) was fought from 12 November 1594 (1 October, lunar calendar) to 29 December 1594 (18 November, lunar calendar), and was the last battle before the Jeongyu War.

Overview

The Japanese army actively avoided combat, so no real battle took place. The Battle of Jangmunpo was carried out unilaterally by Yun Du-su, who had come down to the Lower Three Provinces to supervise them as Chachalsa, on the advice of Gyeongsang Right Naval Commander Won Gyun. He launched an operation in which the navy and army would jointly attack the Japanese forces. When Ryu Seong-ryong learned of this, he sent a written report ordering the operation to be halted, but by then the operation had already begun.

On 12 November (1 October, lunar calendar), Yi Sun-sin stayed at Jangmunpo, then moved to Yeongdeungpo and provoked battle. However, the Japanese army did not respond and avoided the fight.

On 15 November (4 October, lunar calendar), Kwak Jae-woo and Kim Deok-ryeong landed and provoked battle, and Yi Sun-sin fired naval guns, sinking two Japanese ships. However, the Japanese army again avoided the fight. The Joseon forces turned back to Chilcheollyang and anchored there.

On 28 December (17 November, lunar calendar) they attacked Jangmunpo again, but the Japanese army fled, leaving only the message that they could not fight while peace negotiations with the Ming were in progress. In the end, the Joseon forces returned to the Hansando Naval Headquarters after an operation lasting a month and a half without gaining anything. Yun Du-su, who had carried out the operation unilaterally, took responsibility and was removed from his post. Meanwhile, this battle was the only large-scale battle in which Kim Deok-ryeong took part. Shortly afterward, Kim Deok-ryeong was implicated in Yi Mong-hak's Rebellion, and he was unable to achieve any further success and met an undeserved death.