임란 극복의 주역, 류성룡 축출 과정과 그 배경 - ‘재조산하’에서 ‘재조지은’으로

류을하 ( Ryu Eul-ha ) 서애학회 2022 서애연구 Vol.6 No.-

Ryu Seong-ryong was impeached and ousted from the court although he was the hero of the Imjin War. Scholars tend to explain away this issue by pointing to his refusal to serve as special envoy to the Ming after Jeong Eungtae(丁應泰) submitted three memorials to the Ming court. Some simply repeat the accusation of the late 16th century factional struggle that Ryu Seong-ryong “ruined the state with his conciliatory policy toward Japan.” However, Ryu Seong-ryong’s tragic dismissal was not only due to the fundamental contradiction of a reactionary Joseon, but also to the self-centered motives of King Seonjo, the Ming Emperor, and partisans confronting the extreme realities of war. In other words, ideological conflicts over urgent issues as well as factional struggle among individuals and groups formed the complex background against which Ryu took was impeached. Under such difficult and confusing conditions, Ryu Seong-ryong pulled through reforms to overcome the national crisis as well as to prepare for the future. It would be no exaggeration to say that his reforms were to remake the mountains and rivers of the country. Particularly, he enlisted slaves in the regiment troops, which undermined the status system of Joseon society, and implemented the Tribute Cultivation Act, which eliminated the ills of tribute contracting (indirect payment) and imposed higher rates of taxation on the rich. However, the ruling class which enjoyed social and economic privileges in the old system adamantly resisted Ryu’s groundbreaking reforms. King Seonjo tried only to maintain the despotic government while being subservient to the Ming court. Accordingly, Ryu Seong-ryong became a target of the old party, and his relationship with King Seonjo became increasingly conflictual. Moreover, Ryu Seong-ryong who had been in charge of state affairs and endured as Yi Sun-shin’s guardian began to lose power in the wake of the Second Japanese Invasion of 1597 and Yi Sun-shin’s dismissal and imprisonment. In addition, Ryu Seong-ryong had to undergo the intensifying ordeal because the Ming headquarters tried to remove him as he pursued Joseon’s independence. Toward the end of the Imjin War, the so-called “Jeong Eung-tae Incident of False Accusation” occurred. This incident was due to the factional struggle of the Ming court; however, King Seonjo was fixated on his obligation to save Yang Hao 楊鎬 (? - 1629) who had guaranteed his throne. The Northerners plotted to use this incident to oust Ryu Seon-ryong. Accordingly, they impeached Ryu Seong-ryong on the ground that he was being disloyal for having refused to serve as special envoy to the Ming. In addition they made a false accusation that he ruined the state with his conciliatory attitude toward the Japanese. King Seonjo who disliked Ryu Seong-ryong’s presence at the court instigated the impeachment in the background. As a result, Ryu Seong-ryong, the hero of the Imjin War, was dismissed and returned home. Ryu Seong-ryong, the reform-minded top-tier meritorious minister as defeated by those reactionary and subservient ministers. A pre-modern absurdity of an reform-minded upright minister being ousted due to factional struggle can also be found in the histories of other countries: Joseon was no exception. Despite the tremendous external impact, the establishment of the Joseon state since King Sejo’s reign remained still too powerful. Therefore, Ryu could not avoid being impeached. With the dismissal of Ryu Seong-ryong, in a post-war Joseon, the will to remake mountains and rivers of the country was replaced by the sense of indebtedness to repay the favor. The misfortune of the late Joseon period was conceived when Ryu Seong-ryong was dismissed.

임진왜란 기간 류성룡ㆍ이순신 관계와 정유년 위기의 극복

류을하 ( Ryu Eul-ha ) 서애학회 2021 서애연구 Vol.4 No.-

The purpose of this article is to reexamine the relationship between Ryu Seong-ryong and Yi Sunshin, what was probably the greatest encounter in Korean history. Ryu Seong-ryong and Yi Sunshin became the main players during the Imjin War. They cooperated with each other in order to overcome the dynastic crisis. However, they also had to face a serious challenge. Right before the Japanese invasion in the Jeongyu year, Yi Sunshin was in prison and Ryu Seongryong was also politically troubled. It behooves us to observe such contradictory events in which national heros were punished. This article describes the close relationship between Ryu Seong-ryong and Yi Sunsin, who were the objects of jealousy and conspiracy, based on Annals of King Seonjo, Jingbirok, and Nanjung Ilgi. Furthermore, this study reveals that the opposing party members such as Yoon Doosoo, Lee Sanhae, and King Seonjo were closely tied for political gains. Through a close observation of how the selfish motivations of this group withou King Seonjo as leader obscured their judgment so as to fall into the Japanese tactics of deceipt, this article examines and reaffirms the impossibility of the Gadeung Cheongjeong Offshore Interception claimed by spy Yo Shira and accepted by King Seonjo and others. Last but not least, this article assesses the historical records regarding Yi Sunshin's appointment and illuminates the processes by which Yi Sunshin was punished in the Jeongyu year.

십만양병설의 실체

류을하 ( Ryu Eul-ha ) 서애학회 2020 서애연구 Vol.2 No.-

The purpose of this paper is to inquire into the so-called “Yul-gok’s proposal to draft 100,000 men into armed forces,” widely recognized as Yi Yi’s (李珥, 1536-1586) foresight against the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592, based on a close examination of Yi Yi’s literary works. Yi Yi reported “commoners should be raised first” in consideration of the poor public power even after receiving orders from King Sŏnjo, who entrusted the court to prepare for the “Ni T’anggae Rebellion.” In addition, Yi Yi re-examined the principle that the burden of taxes in kind should be reduced by revising the tribute case as a way for the people of commoners, but it was confirmed through the records that the discussion ended without results as King Sŏnjo refused to comply with the revision of the tribute case. The paper reveals that Yi Yi’s political orientation was contrary to his unreasonable the policy of carrying out the same policy as “nurturing 100,000 soldiers against possible foreign enemies” as the king's political ideology, and also pointed out that the socio-economic conditions of the time, such as population and finance, could not handle the proposal to draft 100,000 men into armed forces. However, Kim Jangsaengs’ anecdotal note would form the mythological basis of on Yi Yi’s alleged proposal of “nurturing 100,000 soldiers against possible foreign enemies.” Since then, the biographies of Yi Yi continued to cite Kim Jangsaeng’s notes. Finally, it was included in the Sŏnjo sujŏng sillok for the purpose of strengthen the legitimacy of the reign. In addition, the other records, including the Yulgok Chronicle, show that even Kim Jangseang’s writings were doctored. After Korea's liberation from Japan’s colonial rule, the nationwide slogans of “overcoming Japanese” and “enriching the state” and strengthening the army intensified the myth. This resulted in the elevation of Yi Yi, who did not survive during the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592, as if he made greater contributions to the national defense, and Ryu Sŏngnyong, who made real contributions, was misinterpreted as having ill-advisedly opposed the proposal of raising 100,000 troops. It will be shown that this point is also historically inaccurate.