Battles & Campaigns · 1592
Battle of Chungju
Chungju, North Chungcheong, South Korea
What happened
The Japanese invasion force was advancing quickly toward the Korean capital. Sin Rip gathered his troops near Chungju and chose to fight on flat ground with the Han River behind them, leaving no room to retreat. Japanese gunfire and pikemen broke the Korean lines, and the Korean army was destroyed.
Why it matters
Why it matters: The defeat opened the way to the capital, Hanseong (Seoul). The Japanese entered it within days.
What came next
King Seonjo left the capital for Pyongyang, and Japanese forces took Hanseong.
Did you know?
The Japanese generals Konishi and Katō were rivals and raced each other to be first into the capital.
Timeline
- 3 June 1592Battle of Sangju.
- 7 June 1592Battle of Chungju.
- June 1592Japanese forces enter Hanseong (Seoul).