First Siege of Jinju
Jinju Fortress, Jinju, South Korea
What happened
Korean defenders under Kim Si-min, with townspeople and irregular fighters led by Gwak Jae-u, fought a Japanese army of about 30,000 men. During the Japanese invasion of Korea, a large Japanese army attacked the walled city of Jinju with ladders, a siege tower and guns. When Gwak Jae-u's small force arrived at night blowing horns to sound like a big army, the Japanese withdrew.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It stopped the Japanese advance into south-western Korea and greatly boosted Korean morale. It is ranked with Hansan Island and Haengju as one of the three greatest Korean victories of the war.
What came next
The Japanese returned in the summer of 1593 and captured Jinju in a second siege.
Did you know?
Kim Si-min had recently obtained about 170 muskets, matching the Japanese, and trained his soldiers to use them.
Timeline
- 1377Jinju's walls are rebuilt in stone.
- 8-13 November 1592Jinju holds off the Japanese.
- 1593The second siege of Jinju.
- 21 January 1963Jinju Fortress becomes a Historic Site.