Ryu Rim

Ryu Rim (柳琳, 6 February 1581 – 1643) was a military official of Joseon. His family seat was Jinju, and his courtesy name was Yeoon.

Life

He was born the youngest son among three sons and two daughters of Ryu Hoe, Magistrate of Cheongha County. He lost his parents at the age of ten, and two years later the Imjin War broke out, during which his eldest and second elder brothers were killed by Japanese forces. He afterward grew up with his sister in the household of Ryu Hyeong (柳珩), his clan cousin fifteen years his senior, who was posthumously known as Duke Chunggyeong. He passed the military examination in the 36th year of Seonjo's reign (1603), but because of his small stature he was not immediately appointed as a Royal Military Attaché and waited until the 4th year of Gwanghaegun's reign (1609), when he was finally appointed as a Chogwan of the Training Directorate. In the 9th year of Gwanghaegun's reign (1617) he became Magistrate of Isan, and in the 10th year (1618) he became Naval Commander of Chungcheong. In the 13th year (1621) he became Military Commander of the North, in the 1st year of Injo's reign (1623) Deputy Magistrate of Namyangju, and in the 2nd year (1624) Deputy Magistrate of Seosan. In 1630 he became Naval Commander of Jeolla and suppressed the Yu Heung-chi Rebellion that broke out at Gado. In the 12th year of Injo's reign (1634) he became Military Commander of Pyeongan, strengthened national defense, and refused the excessive demands of the Qing dynasty. Afterward, in the 13th year of Injo's reign (1635) he became Commander of the Police Bureau, and in the 14th year (1636) Left Military Commander of Gyeongsang.

Second Manchu invasion of Korea

When the Second Manchu invasion of Korea broke out in December 1636, in 1637 he organized a royal relief army of 5,000 men together with Governor Hong Myeong-gu, and fought against tens of thousands of Qing troops at Tapdong and Baekdong, inflicting heavy defeats on Qing forces many times their number. However, Hong Myeong-gu, who fought at Tapdong, was killed in battle. Around that time, however, Injo of Joseon surrendered to the Qing, and Ryu Rim, blaming himself for failing to save the king, fell into despair.

Later years

In 1641, when the requested troops to attack the , Ryu Rim did not engage in the fighting actively, and the Qing censured him for this conduct. In the 21st year of Injo's reign (1643) he was appointed Commander of the Police Bureau, but he died before receiving the appointment letter. Records state that he was entered twice in the Wonjonghun (原從勳) and served as magistrate of a county seven times and as military commander or provincial military commander ten times.