Han Kŭkham

In this Korean name, the family name is Han.
Han Kŭkham
Native name
한극함
Died16th day, 5th month of 1593
Cause of deathExecution
AllegianceJoseon
RankRank 2B
Battles / wars
Korean name
Hangul
한극함
Hanja
韓克諴
RRHan Geukham
MRHan Kŭkham
Courtesy name
Hangul
극숙
Hanja
克淑
RRGeuksuk
MRKŭksuk

Han Kŭkham (Korean: 한극함; Hanja: 韓克諴; died on the 16th day, 5th month of 1593) was a Korean military commander active during the mid-Joseon period.

Imjin War

Han Kŭkham held the position of Provincial Military Commander (병마절도사; 兵馬節度使) in Northern Hamgyŏng at the outbreak of the Imjin War in 1592.[1] When the Second Japanese Division under Katō Kiyomasa advanced into the region, Prince Imhae—dispatched to mobilize loyalist resistance—ordered Han to obstruct the Japanese incursion.[2][3] Han sought to mobilize troops from the Six Garrison Posts of Northeastern Hamgyŏng (육진; 六鎭) and preemptively secure Mach'ŏllyŏng pass (마천령; 摩天嶺).[4] However, the Japanese vanguard under Katō had already crossed the pass by the time his forces arrived.[3]

Battle of Haejŏngch'ang

On the 17th day, 7th month of 1592, Han Kŭkham launched a surprise attack on Japanese forces stationed at Haejŏngch'ang (해정창; 海汀倉[5]), a granary facility located in Sŏngjin close to the pass.[6] Initially, the Joseon forces leveraged their superiority in cavalry and archery on open terrain, forcing the Japanese to retreat into the compound. Han's forces laid siege to the warehouse.[7]

However, the Japanese troops fortified their position using grain sacks, which shielded them from arrows and enabled effective counterattacks using arquebuses.[8] As conditions worsened, Han withdrew to a nearby hilltop and established a defensive encampment.[7] On the 18th day, 7th month of 1592, utilizing dense fog for concealment, Japanese troops launched a surprise attack on the hill, causing disarray in the Joseon ranks.[8] Following the collapse of the defense at Haejŏngch'ang, Han fled the battlefield and retreated to Kyŏngsŏng.[9][10] Ham relocated as far as Sŏsura, a Jurchen village to avoid Japanese troops, but was denied refuge. Eventually, he was sheltered by civilians in Kyŏngwŏn, where he was captured by local collaborators and turned over to the Japanese.[11]

Captivity and death

During his captivity, Han cooperated with Katō Kiyomasa, allegedly offering forty strategic recommendations and surrendering his two daughters to the Japanese general.[12][7] His son, Han Kyŏk (한격; 韓格[12]), also provided geographical intelligence, including maps of Joseon and Ming China.[13] Amid mounting pressure from Ming reinforcements and irregular forces led by Chŏng Munbu, the Japanese army began its retreat to Seoul.[14] During this withdrawal, in 4th month of 1593, Han Kŭkham succeeded in escaping from captivity.[1] Han escaped from Japanese custody and reached the camp of Ko Ŏnpaek.[15][16] There, he was arrested. Due to his abandonment of Princes Imhae and Sunhwa, as well as his collaboration with the enemy while in captivity, Han Kŭkham was executed on 16th day, 5th month of 1593.[17][7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b 한극함 (韓克諴) [Han Kŭkham]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Academy of Korean Studies.
  2. ^ 신 2011, pp. 140–141.
  3. ^ a b 윤 2013, p. 135.
  4. ^ 안 1999, p. 126.
  5. ^ 해정창전투 (海汀倉戰鬪) [Battle of Haejŏngch'ang]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Academy of Korean Studies.
  6. ^ 윤 2013, pp. 135–136.
  7. ^ a b c d 김 2008, p. 25.
  8. ^ a b 윤 2013, p. 139.
  9. ^ 신 2011, p. 144.
  10. ^ 이 2007, p. 117.
  11. ^ 윤 2013, p. 136.
  12. ^ a b 선조실록38권, 선조 26년 5월 14일 정묘 1번째기사 [Veritable Records of Seonjo 14th day, 5th month of 1593, 1st article]. Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty (in Korean). National Institute of Korean History. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  13. ^ 선조실록38권, 선조 26년 5월 15일 무진 6번째기사 [Veritable Records of Seonjo 15th day, 5th month of 1593, 6th article]. Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty (in Korean). National Institute of Korean History. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  14. ^ 안 1999, pp. 165–166.
  15. ^ 선조실록36권, 선조 26년 3월 16일 신미 2번째기사 [Veritable Records of Seonjo 16th day, 3rd month of 1593, 2nd article]. Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty (in Korean). National Institute of Korean History. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  16. ^ 윤 2013, p. 180.
  17. ^ 선조실록38권, 선조 26년 5월 16일 기사 1번째기사 [Veritable Records of Seonjo 16th day, 5th month of 1593, 1st article]. Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty (in Korean). National Institute of Korean History. Retrieved 2025-05-25.

Sources

  • 김, 만호 (2008), 임진왜란기 일본군의 함경도 점령과 지역의 동향 [The Japanese Occupation of Hamgyeong Province during the Imjin War and Regional Developments] (Dissertation) (in Korean)
  • 신, 명호 (2011), 임진왜란 중 선조 직계가족의 피난과 항전 [A Study on the Refuge and Resist of King Seonjo`s Family during the Japanese Invasion in 1592], 군사지 (in Korean) (81): 115–150, ISSN 1598-317X
  • 안, 국승 (1999), 임란 의병장 충의공 정문부 [Chunguigong Jeong Mun-bu, Righteous Army commander during the Imjin War] (PDF) (in Korean), 의정부문화원
  • 윤, 인식 (2013), 역사추적 임진왜란 - 임진왜란 한국 일본 기록 비교 [Historical Tracking Imjin War - Comparison records by Korea and Japan] (1st ed.), Seoul: BookLab, ISBN 978-89-98666-83-5
  • 이, 장희 (2007), "鄭文孚와 關北義兵" [Chŏng Munbu and the Pukkwan Campaign], 임진왜란사 연구 [Research on the Imjin War] (in Korean), 아세아문화사, pp. 114–139, ISBN 9788942816934
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