[Lee Sang-hoon's Korean History] The Goryeo Military Coup and the Rise of Yeonju Hyeon Clan

Jo Wichong's 'Banmusin Rebellion'
Failure Made the Hyeon Family Protect Yeonju

The failure of Jo Wi-chong's 'Ban Musin Rebellion' during the Goryeo Dynasty was due to the efforts of the Hyeon family, who protected Yeonju. Illustration by Lee Young-woo.

In August 1170, a military coup occurred in Goryeo. The military officers, rebelling against the preferential treatment of civil officials and discrimination against military officials, overthrew the king and seized power. However, the military regime soon had to suppress the rebellions led by Kim Bodang and Jo Wichong. These were anti-military uprisings.

The rebellion of Kim Bodang in 1173 was centered in some parts of the Donggye (Eastern Border) region and opposed the military regime but was quickly suppressed. However, the Jo Wichong rebellion in 1174, centered around Seogyeong (Pyongyang), saw over 40 fortresses in the Bukgye (Northern Border) and about 20 fortresses in Donggye join the uprising, lasting for two years. At one point, it was a formidable rebellion that threatened the capital Gaegyeong.

Generally, Bukgye corresponds to today’s Pyongan Province, and Donggye corresponds to today’s Hamgyeong Province. These were special administrative districts with enhanced military authority. The anti-military rebellions arose mainly in these regions. If the military forces of Bukgye and Donggye were united, the survival of the military regime would have been uncertain.

Jo Wichong, who led the rebellion, circulated proclamations in various fortresses of Bukgye and Donggye: “Rumor has it that in the central office of Gaegyeong, it is discussed that many of the fortresses in Bukgye harbor rough and fierce men who must be suppressed, and many troops have already been mobilized. How can we just sit still and wait to die? Everyone should gather their soldiers and horses quickly and rush to Seogyeong.”

At that time, almost all fortresses in Bukgye joined Jo Wichong’s rebel forces, except for Yeonju Fortress. Yeonju is located in today’s Yeongbyeon area of North Pyongan Province, on the northern bank of the middle reaches of the Cheongcheon River. Jo Wichong repeatedly sent secret letters to persuade Yeonju and also sent troops to attack it directly. However, Jo Wichong’s attacks on Yeonju repeatedly failed and became a thorn in his side. Yeonju, located in the middle reaches of the Cheongcheon River connecting Bukgye and Donggye, had considerable influence over many fortresses north of the Cheongcheon River in Bukgye.

Eventually, Jo Wichong stationed his trusted men in Yeonju (Ryeonju) on the southern bank of the Cheongcheon River. Ryeonju corresponds to today’s Kaechon area in South Pyongan Province and was positioned to check Yeonju. In other words, Yeongbyeon in the north and Kaechon in the south, separated by the Cheongcheon River, stood opposed to each other. This made it difficult for Jo Wichong to fully concentrate on attacking Gaegyeong in the early stages of the rebellion.

Yeongbyeonseong (Yeonjuseong) Manno Gate. Photo

The Gaegyeong government forces also recognized the importance of Yeonju. Since a considerable number of Jo Wichong’s troops were stationed in Ryeonju on the southern bank of the Cheongcheon River to check Yeonju on the northern bank, eliminating them would only increase Yeonju’s symbolic and actual influence. After realizing that Jo Wichong’s trusted men were stationed in Ryeonju, Yoon Incheom, the commander of the Gaegyeong government forces, said to several generals:

“I have heard that to lead someone, one must first be close from within, and when suppressing rebels, one must cut off the branches first. If we attack Seogyeong first, those in Ryeonju will entice the northern people to join forces against us. We would have to fight enemies on both fronts, which is not a good strategy. Right now, Ryeonju trusts Seodo (Western Capital: Seogyeong) and does not expect us to arrive suddenly. Therefore, we should attack Ryeonju first.”

Yoon Incheom accurately assessed the situation. He saw that the ‘northern people’?the reinforcements from Bukgye and Donggye?would be a variable in the battle between the Gaegyeong government forces and the Seogyeong rebels. To cut off these reinforcements, he argued that Ryeonju should be struck first. Also, since Seogyeong was well fortified, it was better to eliminate the weaker forces first.

Yoon Incheom headed north to Ryeonju rather than to Seogyeong, the rebellion’s stronghold. Upon arrival, the government forces besieged Ryeonju for three to four months. Ryeonju had no choice but to request reinforcements from Seogyeong. However, Yoon Incheom anticipated Seogyeong’s movements and blocked the route of the northern-bound reinforcements. Using a side path, he defeated the Seogyeong reinforcements, beheading 1,500 and capturing about 220. He also ambushed another group at Mangwon, killing over 700 and capturing about 60. The Seogyeong reinforcements suffered losses of about 2,500.

However, Ryeonju did not surrender easily. At this time, Du Gyeongseung, the rear army commander, bypassed and first pacified the Donggye region before arriving at Ryeonju to join forces. While the rebel reinforcements were defeated, government reinforcements arrived. Du Gyeongseung built an earthen mound northeast of Ryeonju Fortress as a base for attack. He installed large weapons like the cannon crossbow (Pono) on the mound and attacked Ryeonju Fortress, eventually capturing it. After Ryeonju fell, many fortresses in Bukgye surrendered to the government forces at once.

A view of Gyeongheonsa, the shrine of the Yeonju Hyeon clan. Yeonju is the old name of Yeongbyeon in Pyeonganbuk-do, and the Yeonju Hyeon clan currently maintains a shrine in Cheonan, Chungnam, where they consistently hold ancestral rites to honor their progenitor Hyeon Dam-yun and their ancestors. Photo by Yeonju Hyeon Clan Grand Association

When Du Gyeongseung captured Ryeonju Fortress, soldiers entered and recklessly took valuables and treasures, but Du Gyeongseung forbade this. However, he allowed them to take cauldrons. The Gaegyeong government forces, after capturing Ryeonju Fortress, attacked Seogyeong but could not easily capture it. The cauldrons taken from Ryeonju Fortress proved very useful as excellent cooking utensils. The soldiers said, “The commander’s strategy is truly magnificent.”

In June 1176, Yoon Incheom and Du Gyeongseung moved south to attack Seogyeong. Yoon Incheom attacked Tongyang Gate, and Du Gyeongseung attacked and broke Daedong Gate. They entered the fortress, beheaded Jo Wichong, and captured about ten of his commanders. The others were pacified and stabilized. Jo Wichong’s head was placed in a box and sent first to Gaegyeong through the Deputy Commander of the Army and Cavalry, Chae Sangjeong, to announce the victory.

Several factors contributed to the failure of Jo Wichong’s rebellion, but a decisive one was that Yeonju on the northern bank of the Cheongcheon River did not join the rebellion early on. Because Yeonju did not join, Jo Wichong had to disperse some troops to Ryeonju on the southern bank. At that time, Yeonju was defended by Hyeon Damyun and his son Hyeon Deoksu. Hyeon Deoksu was intelligent from a young age and caught the eye of Kim Chigyu, the Divisional General of Yeonju. He followed Kim to Gaegyeong to study and had several failed attempts at the civil service examination. This background suggests he understood the situation in Gaegyeong well. It is remarkable that while over 40 fortresses in Bukgye sided with Jo Wichong, he alone sided with the Gaegyeong government.

When Jo Wichong threatened to send 10,000 elite troops to attack Yeonju, Hyeon Deoksu beheaded the messenger who brought Jo Wichong’s letter. Jo Wichong then sent some troops to Ryeonju to deliver another letter, threatening that many soldiers had already reached the Cheongcheon River and would soon attack and capture the fortress. This caused unrest among the people inside the fortress.

At this time, Hyeon Deoksu forged a letter from a military officer of Maengju. He secretly sent the fake letter outside the fortress to the civilians and then threw it back inside. The letter stated that a large force from Gaegyeong had already crossed Cheollyeong and would soon attack Seogyeong from Donggye, and that those deceived by Jo Wichong should not rashly move their troops. The people inside the fortress firmly believed this letter and, following Hyeon Deoksu, firmly closed the gates and prepared to defend.

Ultimately, Jo Wichong’s rebellion was suppressed by the government forces, and the Hyeon family who defended Yeonju advanced to official positions. They are the progenitors of the Yeonju Hyeon clan and ancestors of all Hyeon clans. The reason why the Yeonju Hyeon clan did not cooperate with Jo Wichong remains unclear. However, their steadfastness likely stemmed from prior communication with the Gaegyeong government or knowledge of the weaknesses of the Seogyeong rebels. They revived their family through accurate assessment of the situation and firm resolve.

Lee Sanghun, Professor, Department of Military History, Korea Military Academy