Interestingly enough while passing through the nice and quiet city of Sangju located in Kyeongsangbuk-do province I noticed a really nice Confucian looking building.

Upon exploration of the site, I was surprised to learn that the building was built in memory of a battle that took place here in April 1592 against the invading Japanese forces led by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Hideyoshi was looking to conquer Korea in a bid to build his own wealth and power in order to make a stronger case to be declared Shogun of all of Japan by the Japanese emperor. The city of Sangju takes pride in the fact that this city was the first location in Korea where the citizens took up arms and joined forces with the Korean government army to fight the Japanese invaders.

Unfortunately the Korean army and the volunteers from Sangju were surprised by a Japanese attack and proceeded to be slaughtered by the overwhelming Japanese invaders. The battle took place in the vicinity of the Pukchon River and the foothills of Chasan Mountain where the present memorial is located. Though the Battle of Sangju was a rout by the Japanese forces it was a rallying cry and the beginning of a prolonged effort by the Korean Army and it’s citizens to fight the Japanese. They formed guerrilla groups and proceeded to attack and harrass the Japanese forces. This is the closest historical battle in Korea I have seen that can almost be described as a Korean “Alamo”.

With help from China and the many naval engagements won by legendary Korean General Yi Sun-shin and his turtle boats, the Koreans were able to finally expel the Japanese invaders in December of 1592. The country was devestated by the invasion with many cultural relics lost, buildings and homes burned, kidnappings of artisans, and a host of other tradgedies. Hideyoshi lost many men and money in his Korean venture and actually tried to attack Korea again in 1597 where he was soundly defeated by the combined Korean and Ming Chinese forces. Though Korea experienced much devestation the Koreans remained free from the Japanese and it all began here in the city of Sangju. I guess that is something to be proud of.