The Gisa Hwanguk () occurred when the

Westerners The Western world, also known as the West, primarily refers to various nations and states in Western Europe, Northern America, and Australasia; with some debate as to whether those in Eastern Europe and Latin America also constitute the West. ...

fell out of power after opposing the naming of a crown prince by

Sukjong of Joseon Sukjong (; 7 October 1661 – 12 July 1720), personal name Yi Sun (), was the 19th monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. A skilled legislator, he caused multiple changes in political power throughout his reign, by switching among the Namin ...

. Prominent Westerner

Song Si-yeol A song is a musical composition performed by the human voice. The voice often carries the melody (a series of distinct and fixed pitches) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs have a structure, such as the common ABA form, and are usuall ...

and others were executed. Shortly after, the Westerners split into

Noron The Noron () were a political faction of the Joseon Dynasty in Korea. They consisted of the supporters of Song Siyeol after the split of the Westerners. The Noron suffered setbacks with regent Kim Seok-ju's death in 1684 and Song's execution in 1 ...

(Song's supporters within the Westerners) and

Soron Soron is a town in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. History Kasganj district was formed on 17 April 2008 by splitting Kasganj, Patiali and Sahawar Tehsils from Etah district. Amir Khusro belongs to Patiali tehsil of the district. Soron is the ...

(Song's opponents within the Westerners).

Background

In the late 17th century, the

Westerners (Korean political faction) The Westerners () was a political faction that dominated Korea in the 17th century. In 1575, the Sarim split into the Easterners (Korean political faction), Easterners and Westerners. The Westerners remained the main contender of the Easterners in ...

and

Southerners (Korean political faction) The Southerners () were a political faction of the Joseon Dynasty. The faction was created after the split of the Easterners in 1591 by Yi Sanhae's opponents. Its leader was Yu Sŏngnyong, who died in 1607. Leader Heo Mok was Left Prime Minist ...

were at odds in the political management of the ruling party. King Sukjong decided to abandon the previous system of party alliance and replace it frequently in order to stabilize his authority. In the beginning of King Sukjong's reign, the Southerners took the lead with the victory of the second Yesong. In response, the Westerners felt a sense of crisis as a political opponent of the Southerners, and the King Sukjong also had a sense of caution about the continuing rule of the Southerners. This was revealed in Hwanguk (the form of exchange party), including the Gyeongshin Hwanguk, Gisa Hwanguk, and Gapsul Hwanguk.

References

Political history of Korea 17th century in Korea 1689 in Asia {{Korea-hist-stub