Names
The names for this rebellion was also known as the Noksaek Pyroan Rebellion or the Wushinran.Background
TheDeath of Gyeongjong
During King Gyeongjong's reign, he suffered from severe illnesses beginning from his time as the crown prince. Due to concerns about the succession of the crown prince, Sukjong secretly entrusted the title of Prince Yeongin (延礽君: later known as King Yeongjo) to Yi Ye-myeong (李頤命) in the private meeting known as Jeongyudokdae (丁酉獨對) in 1717, which involved only Sukjong and Yi Ye-myeong. Even during his final years, King Gyeongjong did not actively participate in state affairs, including the selection of his crown prince, and he struggled to handle national affairs properly during his reign. In response, the Noron faction expedited the enfeoffment of Prince Yeongin and the appointment of a regent based on the reason that King Gyeongjong had no heir and was plagued by illnesses. In contrast, the Soron faction used the pretext of protecting King Gyeongjong to instigate the appointment of a regent. However, when King Gyeongjong died after only four years on the throne and Yeongjo succeeded to the throne, the Soron faction's pretext of the regency was criticized, and the Noron faction's position was restored. However, when King Gyeongjong died in 1724 and King Yeongjo ascended to the throne, the situation rapidly changed. Shortly after his ascension, King Yeongjo released Min Jin-won (the older brother ofPreparations
When Yeongjo, supported by Noron, ascended to the throne, Soro's political standing became uncertain. Furthermore, with Yeongjo favoring figures from the Noron faction, Soro's anxiety only grew. In 1725 (the first year of Yeongjo's reign), when Kim Il-kyeong was removed, a faction of Soro finally formed the Musindang. Musindang was led by Park Pil-hyeon, Lee Yu-ik, and they recruited figures like Han Se-hong and Lee In-jwa from the Nam-in faction. They held negative views towards Noron and Yeongjo, believing that they had to remove Noron in order to regain political power. Musindang advocated the illegitimacy of Yeongjo's succession to the throne and decided to support Lee Tan, the great-grandson ofObstacles
During the preparations for the rebellion in the central and provincial regions, a problem occurred. While the central region was planning the rebellion for April, Yi In-jwa, Jeong Se-yun, and others in the provincial region had been gathering and mobilizing military forces in Yangseong and Jinwi inFinal Preparations
As local preparations for rebellion progressed, movements resumed in the central government. The central leadership maintained close contact with Yi Saseong, who was serving as a Pyeongan soldier at the time, and they also prepared for rebellion with figures like Park Pil-hyeon, who was in Taiin. Particularly, Park Pil-hyeon, Lee Yu-ik (李有翼), and Shim Yu-hyeon, both members of Musindang felt threatened by the sudden death of King Gyeongjong and the potential loss of their political positions, planned to recruit the excluded Namin members and sought to eliminate Yeongjo and the Noron faction, trained soldiers and stole gunpowder inOrder of battle
Rebels
In the capital, Lee Ha (李河), Yang Myeong-ha (梁命夏), and Yun Deok-yu (尹德裕) were involved, while in the provinces, Jeong Jun-yu (鄭遵儒, later renamed Hwalyang) in Anseong, Na Man-chi (羅萬致) in Eunjin, Jo Deok-gyu (趙德奎) in Yeosu, Im Seo-ho (任瑞虎) in Icheon, Jeong Se-yun (鄭世胤) in Anseong, Lee Ho (李昈) in Jinwi, Min Won-bo (閔元普) in Chungju, Yi In-jwa in Cheongju, Shin Cheon-young (申天永) in Cheongju, Kim Hong-su (金弘壽) in Sangju, and Lee Il-jwa (李日佐) in Gwacheon participated. They also collaborated with Yi Sa-seong (李思晟) from Pyeongan Province and Nam Tae-jing (南泰徵) from Geumgun County. They spread rumors by associating suspicions about King Gyeongjong's death with Shim Yu-hyeon, who was the younger brother of Queen Shin (沈氏) and had witnessed King Gyeongjong's passing. As a result, incidents of rumors and anonymous letters occurred throughout the country, and they recruited private soldiers (家丁) and slaves, as well as mobilizing bandits (明火賊) and others as an army.Government
They strengthened the defense of the castle gates through theRebellion
The rebellion led by Yi In-jwa began on March 15 when they captured Cheongju Castle. The rebel forces attacked the military camps, killed soldiers Lee Bong-sang, Nam Yeon-nyeon, and military officer Hong Rim, and seized Cheongju. They also established multiple flags for King Gyeongjong and set up his ancestral tablets to worship. They appointed Gwon Seo-bong as a magistrate, and Shin Cheon-yeong as a general, and sent proclamations to various towns to recruit soldiers and distribute provisions. Their power expanded significantly. Local officials and the village gentry in Cheongju joined the rebels, and their numbers rapidly increased. As a result, the rebel forces expanded to Hwanggan, Hoein, Mokcheon, and Jincheon and headed towards Anseong and Juk-san. The rebels dispatched envoys to these areas, distributed rice and divided the land, and recruited soldiers. Thus, the occupation of Cheongju Castle, which began with 200 to 300 people, gained support from various regions and classes.Surrounding the capital
Meanwhile, the rebel forces in Gyeonggi Province and Hoseo, as they expanded their power centering around Cheongju Castle, expected support from the Yeongnam and Honam forces. However, it was not easy to achieve solidarity in Yeongnam and Honam. In the Yeongnam region, Jeong Hee-ryang, the fourth-generation descendant of Jeong On, recruited commoners under the pretext of relocating ancestral tombs, and together with Yi Wung-bo (Yi In-jwa's younger brother), they easily seized Anum's Gohyeon-chang on March 20, threatening Anum and Geochang counties with an ultimatum. With the help of the Jo Seong-jwa family, who were acquaintances of Jeong Hee-ryang residing in Hapcheon, they then conquered four counties and districts, including Hapcheon and Hamyang. In response, Hwang Seon, the governor of Gyeongsang Province, appointed Lee Bo-hyeok as the leader of the right-wing, and Jung Yang-bin as the leader of the left-wing, to command the surrounding government forces and suppress the rebellion. The rebel forces attempted to join forces with the rebel forces in Chungcheong Province by passing through Hamyang after Geochang, but they failed. In the Honam region, the rebel forces collaborated with Park Pil-hyeon, who was exiled to Mount Mooju as a chief conspirator, and others. However, they failed to establish a connection with the Jeolla governor, and Park Pil-hyeon was arrested and executed in a village in Sangju, while Park Pil-hyeon hid in Gobu County, Heungdeok, but was arrested and executed. In Jeolla Province, Jeong Pyeol-hyeon, the magistrate of Taein, planned to maintain control of nearby regions and mobilize cavalry, but he participated in the distribution of Gwaseo salt and did not follow the mobilization of troops. Furthermore, the plan for Jeonju to advance to Cheongju together with Gamyeong-gun was leaked in advance. Park Pil-hyeon, who was being exiled while armed, intended to enter Jeonju with about 30 soldiers, but he disbanded when the mobilization of troops in Taein failed. As a result, the planned mobilization of troops in Honam did not take place as planned. Similarly, Pyeongan soldier Yi Sa-seong, who was stationed in Muan, did not mobilize troops as promised. As a result, there was a disruption in the planned rebellion between the central and provincial regions, and the rebel forces in Cheongju were forced to march directly to the capital.Government response
Meanwhile, the government, while the rebel forces were gathering in Yangseong, Sosa, and other places, preemptively blocked the connection between the central and provincial rebel forces based on a report submitted by Choe Gyu-seo. They also arrested residents of Hanyang, descendants of rebel sympathizers such as Yun Hyu and Yi Uijing, and families of Kim Il-kyeong and Mok Ho-ryong. Furthermore, in order to prevent a surge in rice prices caused by the rebellion and the resulting public discontent, they transported the stored rice near the Han River to the safety of the castle. On March 17, when the invasion of Hanseong was imminent, Oh Myeong-hang offered to take charge of the campaign. King Yeongjo immediately accepted this and appointed Park Moon-su as a military official. Oh Myeong-hang, Chief Military Commissioner the four provinces, spread false information that he would go to Jiksan in Gyeonggi Province.Battle of Anseong and Jik-san
On March 23, they arrived in Anseong, it was already dark. They captured a spy named Choi Seop, who provided valuable information about the enemy's situation and the identity of their leader. They searched his pockets and found a badge belonging to Yi Bong-sang. Shortly after, several torches approached from a distance, accompanied by shouting and cheering. A scout quickly reported that enemy troops had invaded the camp. At that moment, a violent storm raged, and the night was pitch black. They couldn't even discern the surrounding area because they hadn't managed to light a fire. The soldiers, who hadn't eaten, didn't know what to do. However, Oh Myeong-hang remained calm and motionless. He ordered his troops to refrain from hasty shooting and to wait until the enemy approached before releasing their arrows. They prepared for death and fed their horses. Drawing strength from the situation, the camp stabilized. On March 24, just outside the camp, they discovered the bodies of over a hundred enemy soldiers who had been killed by bullets. Most of the enemy forces were composed of elite troops disguised as civilians from various villages, such as those in Jeongjujin and Mokcheon. They had secretly gathered in the mountains of Cheongryongsan near Anseong. However, the villages below the mountains had become strongholds for the enemy, so no one could come to report the situation to Anseong's army. Additionally, the enemy's spies were repeatedly captured by the government forces, so the enemy only knew that a large army was heading towards Jiksan and were unaware that the camp had been relocated to Anseong. In the darkness, they mistook the camp in Anseong's army as their own and indiscriminately shot arrows and fired cannons, but none of them reached their target. Suddenly, they saw the astonishing sight of a divine machine arrow being shot by the main army. Finally realizing that the military forces of the capital had arrived, they panicked and retreated. Unable to withstand the threat, most of the scattered enemy forces fled. Yi In-jo and Park Jong-won, the leaders of the rebels, led a small group of soldiers and retreated into the mountains of Cheongryongsan, waiting for reinforcements from Juk-san's army. However, the main army was unaware of the rebel's stronghold. Upon seeing Kwon Hee-hak capturing an enemy spy, Min Je-jang, immediately calmed down and sent a letter. Finally, they learned that the rebel troops were located in the mountain valleys and villages around Daecheon, which were about 5 li away from the military camp. From a distance, Oh Myeong-hang observed the terrain. Cheongryong Mountain curved like a lying cow, surrounding three sides for hundreds of steps. Within it, there were 50 to 60 villages, and the front was a plain. Immediately, Park Chan-shin was appointed as the commander of the central army. He divided the infantry into three units and the cavalry into one unit to lead and guard the area. He instructed them, "Lower the flags, refrain from making any noise, take off your armor and helmets, and quickly advance. The infantry unit should go through the back of the mountain, occupy the high and rugged areas first. The second unit should divide into two wings, shoot cannons and fire rockets to set the villages on fire. If we follow this strategy, considering the situation, the enemy will definitely flee forward. The cavalry unit should trample them down." Additionally, he ordered Min Je-man, "Lead the military forces in Anseong and head south to create a diversion and block the enemy's escape route." However, due to the impatience and lack of discipline of the vanguard troops, they raised their banners and made noise while marching north. The enemy noticed this and quickly abandoned their military equipment and supplies, rushing up the mountain to set up their camp. They raised a red sunshade and commanded with a white flag. The military forces were deprived of the advantage of the terrain, and they could only watch from above without being able to approach. Kwon Hee-hak, realizing that there was an enemy commander in the middle of the village, grabbed a village grandmother and threatened her. He asked Im Man-bin, "Aren't you a warrior? Why are you afraid of such a trivial enemy?" Im Man-bin replied angrily, "I should die honorably." He then asked for someone to follow him, saying, "Who will follow me?" Around 50 soldiers, including Jung Cho-sun, expressed their willingness to follow him. Finally, as they advanced into the village, enemy commander Park Jong-won's words were fierce, so he did not draw his sword, causing a delay. In the meantime, the army had already arrived. Park Jong-won shouted, "You've bought yourself time until your life comes to an end!" and drew his sword, attempting to escape. Jo Tae-seon quickly shot an arrow, hitting him in the neck. Park Jong-won took a few steps before collapsing. Im Man-bin dismounted and beheaded him and several of his officers. He then tied their heads to a pole and ran up the mountain. The enemy, seeing this, lost their morale. Moreover, their bows and cannons were soaked from the rain, rendering them useless. Finally, they fled to the mountaintop. At that moment, a strong northeast wind blew, aiding the pursuing army from the northwest. The enemy, attempting to escape south along the ridges, saw Min Je-man's disguised soldiers and turned back westward. Their situation became even more chaotic, and they scattered in all directions, abandoning their weapons and flags. The pursuing army killed over 100 enemy soldiers. Cavalry officer Im Pil-wi captured one enemy and rode with him under his armpit, impressing those who witnessed it. They captured the enemy's baggage and their red umbrellas and flags. Initially, the pursuing army attacked the enemy while they were on the mountain, creating an illusion of retreat and luring them. However, once both sides withdrew from the mountain, the outcome became uncertain. Officers climbed up the hill to observe and became extremely anxious, unsure if the pursuing army was being overwhelmed by the enemy. Oh Myeong-hang laughed and said, "The enemy will not escape." Shortly before noon, messengers arrived to deliver the news, and in the afternoon, Park Chan-shin sounded the drums and horns. He hung several enemy heads on a pole and brought them, causing the crowd to cheer and the soldiers and horses to rejoice. They wrote a report, enclosing the heads of Park Jong-won and others, and sent it to military official Shin Man in Seoul for urgent transmission. Meanwhile, the royal court was anxiously awaiting the intelligence day and night. Upon seeing the northeast wind arise that day, they all said, "It is advantageous for the king's army," and indeed, they achieved a great victory.End of the rebellion
The defeat of the rebel forces in Anseong and Juk-san dealt a significant blow to the rebel forces in the Samnam region. With the main rebel forces defeated and their leaders Yi In-jwa, Gwon Seo-bong, and Mok Ham-gyeong captured and executed, the rebel forces in other regions gradually collapsed. The government forces pursued and suppressed the remnants of the rebellion, resulting in the capture or surrender of many rebel soldiers. When the government forces led by Oh Myeong-hang crossed Chupungryeong Pass in early April, the rebel forces in the Yeongnam region had already been suppressed by the local government forces. The government forces returned to Geochang on April 19, and King Yeongjo personally went out to the Sungnyemun Gate to receive their triumph. Although the scholar-officials took the lead in pacifying the rebellion, most of the instigators were scholars, which weakened their position and led to their disadvantage in the subsequent political situation. On the other hand, the implementation of the Tangpyeong policy, which had been advocated since the beginning of King Yeongjo's reign, could further solidify the justification and strengthen royal authority, contributing to the stability of the political situation.Aftermath
The rebellion of Yi In-jwa, which once boasted its power by occupying Cheongju Castle, ultimately failed due to the defeat in the battles of Anseong and Juk-san. The failure can be attributed to conflicts among the leadership, a passive attitude towards the rebellion by the central ruling class through the surrender of the capital, and the absence of a unified preparation system. Yeongjo attributed the cause of the rebellion to factional strife. He realized that despite his efforts to recruit talented individuals and implement policies of reconciliation to end factional strife, the strife persisted, resulting in the rebellion. He also acknowledged that the people's resentment towards the government persisted due to the continued factional strife while they suffered from famine and poverty. Based on this reflection, Yeongjo implemented the Gyuyu Restriction the following year, in 1729, and actively pursued policies of reconciliation. Following the rebellion of Yi In-jwa, it had a subtle influence on the direction of the political situation. The ruling faction's political standing weakened as they were involved in the rebellion, and the opposition faction was not necessarily in a politically advantageous position as they were responsible for instigating the rebellion. However, it created an opportunity for the moderate faction, which criticized the power struggles and conflicts between the ruling and opposition factions, to come into power. Subsequently, with the cooperation of moderate members of the opposition faction such as Hong Chi-jung and Kim Heung-gyeong, the moderate factions of both the ruling and opposition factions established a foundation for governing the country together. This laid the groundwork for a moderate ruling regime led by the factions of both the ruling and opposition parties.Impact
The rebellion of Yi In-jwa was a significant challenge to the government during that time. The rebel forces managed to gather support and occupy Cheongju Castle, expanding their influence in the region. However, due to difficulties in achieving solidarity with other rebel forces in Yeongnam and Honam, as well as preemptive actions by the government, their plans were disrupted. The government forces were able to strengthen their defenses and launch a successful counterattack, leading to the defeat of the rebellion. The rebellion of Yi In-jwa had social and economic factors at its core. It was fueled by grievances of the lower classes, such as peasants and commoners, who were burdened by heavy taxes and exploitation. The rebel forces promised land redistribution and economic relief, which garnered support from various regions and classes. However, the rebellion ultimately failed to achieve its goals due to a lack of coordination and effective leadership. The suppression of the rebellion had a significant impact on the subsequent political and social landscape. The government implemented stricter control measures and increased surveillance to prevent future uprisings. It also carried out punitive measures against those involved in the rebellion, including executions and confiscation of property. The rebellion served as a reminder of the government's vulnerability to popular discontent and highlighted the need for reforms to address social and economic inequalities.See also
*Bibliography
* Cho, Ch’anyong 찬용 2003, '' 1728 nyŏn Musinsat’ae koch’al''. 728년 무신사태 고찰/An enquiry into the 1728 Musillan situation Seoul: iolive * Jackson, Andrew David. 2011, '' The 1728 Musillan Rebellion: Resources and the Fifth-Columnists'', Unpublished PhD dissertation. University of London * Jackson, Andrew David. 2016, ''The 1728 Musin Rebellion: Politics and Plotting in Eighteenth-Century Korea,'' University of Hawaii Press * Oh, Gap-Kyun 갑균 1977, "英祖朝 戊申亂에 관한 考察. On the Musin(戊申)-Revolt under the Reign of King Youngcho," ''역사교육'' 21 (5): 65-99References
{{Authority control 18th century in Korea 1728 in Asia