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Won Gyun (1540 - 1597) was a Korean general and admiral during the Joseon Dynasty. He is best known for his campaigns against Japanese during Hideyoshi's Invasions of Korea.

Early life and education

Won was a member of Wonju Won family. His father once bought a seat in local governmnet and was promptly removed due to incompetency and corruption charges brought against him.^{[citation needed]}

Military career

He was qualified as a military officer, and was first assigned to the northern border to defend against the Jurchens, who frequently raided Korean villages. Won led many successful campaigns along with Yi Il and Yi Sun Shin against the Jurchens. After few accomplishments on the northern frontier, he was promoted to admiral in 1592 and sent to the southern coast of Gyeongsang Province to command the province's Western Fleet, along with Yi Sun Shin, who became admiral prior to Won and took command of Jeolla Province's Eastern Fleet. At the time, both Won and Yi were cavalry leaders who had no experience with naval warfare.

At this time, Japan was united after a long period of internal warfare by a new leader, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Hideyoshi had become supreme ruler over most of Japan by killing many rivals to rise to power. Hideyoshi decided to begin an expansionist war against Japan's neighbors. Some Koreans realized that the threat from Japan was great, and they argued that the Joseon dynasty needed to prepare for future invasion from Japan as well as the existing Jurchen menace. However the government was divided along factional lines, and the officials could not reach a decision- so Hideyoshi saw the chance to take Korea unprepared.

On April 13, 1592, the Japanese fleet under Kato Kiyomasa launched a sudden strike on the Eastern Fleet of Gyeongsang province, and disabled every ship under its control. The main army under Kato and Konishi Yukinaga landed on Korean Peninsula on the next day, and marched northward. Won, who was commander of the Western Fleet of Kyungsang province, was also routed by the invading Japanese, and in a panic he hastily sunk most of his own battleships. Many of his staff strongly advised against the action but they had little to no effect. Few officers under Won's command volunteered to serve under Yi's command when they lost their command due to Won's action. These transfers were never authorized by Won himself but the transfer occurred anyway due to the critical shortage of qualified combat leaders. With only 4 ships left under his command, Won called for help from Yi Sun Shin, who had prepared for war and raised a smaller and battle ready fleet than that of Won. However Yi told Won that he required permission from the royal court to cross the boundary between the two different fleets. Which, ironically was requested by Won and King approved it on his behalf prior to the invasion. King Seonjo finally ordered both admirals to fight against Japanese on May 2, 1592, and finally Won and Yi began their campaign two days later, along with Admiral Yi Eok-gi, the commander of the Western Fleet of Jeolla Province.

On May 7th, the Korean navy under Yi destroyed a Japanese fleet in the Battle of Okpo. Later Won was promoted to an army general, while Yi Sun Shin became naval commander-in-chief. Won's promotion was largely supported by the King himself who was in desperate need to find a political figure who can counter the rising popularity of Yi in both the royal court and people of Joseon. ^{[citation needed]} Won's phony battle report, which substantially enlarged his effort to the victory while downsizing that of Yi's, was submitted to the royal court as a supporting justification for the promotion.

In 1597, Japanese decided to stop all negotiations with the Koreans and Chinese Ming Dynasty, and planned a re-invasion of Korea. To do so, they plotted to remove Admiral Yi Sun Shin from the navy. Japanese spies directed by Konishi Yukinaga spread word that Kato Kiyomasa was urging other Japanese to continue fighting and would soon be crossing the sea. King Seonjo ordered Admiral Yi to capture Kato, but Yi refused to do so as he knew that the words were the fabrications of Japanese agents. In fear of a possible Coup d'état attempt by Yi, which was never plotted, King Seonjo ordered the execution of Yi. The royal court reluctantly yet successfully resisted the order and was able to lower the punishment to imprisonment and demotion of Yi to a rank of seaman. Seonjo then replaced Yi with his political puppet, Won Gyun, as the chief of naval operations.

However Won also knew the information was false, and did not advance toward Busan for same tactical reasons Yi reported to the royal court prior to his removal from the post.^{[citation needed]} The government continued to trust the information and ordered Won to attack Japanese ships at Ungcheon, and Won attacked Japanese, who were mostly unarmed and protected under the cease-fire treaty, and defeated them. He lost one of his battleship and the captain during the attack. He did not advance anymore after receiving a letter of protest from Japanese commander. Then Field Marshal Gwon Yool, famous for the battle of Fort Hangjoo and was also under heavy pressure from the royal court and the king himself as well, recalled Won to his headquarters and once again ordered him to attack Busan. When Won refused, Gwon ordered Won to be clubbed in front of him for disobeying orders. The punishment was never given to an admiral before. Won could not disobey the command of the royal court anymore and led Korean navy toward Busan, along with famous admiral Yi Eok Ki. It is worth of noting Won actually advised the king to order the attack while Yi was still the chief of naval operation and also cited that he can mount a successful attack on Japanese fleet in Busan and the city itself. This report was highly politically motivated and little to no tactical analysis was included. The king used it to its full potential as this report was submitted to the royal court to remove Yi from his post for disobeying the king's order.

The Japanese at first seemed to retreat, but it was a trick to trap the Korean fleet. The Japanese already prepared to devastate the Korean navy prior to land invasion and the number of Japanese ships was great that most Koreans were already frightened including Admiral Bae Seol. The Japanese fleet, commanded by famous naval commander Todo Tokatora, advanced toward Won Gyun's fleets. Won knew that he would lose the battle, but had no choice but to face the enemy. At the Battle of Chilchonryang, the Korean navy was utterly destroyed, and Won, who tried to escape by land, was killed by the surrounding Japanese, the accuracy of his death is still in debate as there are many reports of him being alive and well after the battle. The royal court, however, issued official report of his death after the war. There is a good chance the report was fabricated to cover the king's own fault of removing Yi out of his post and thus letting the entire fleet to be distorted in single battle. Only 12 ships under Bae Seol, who had decided to desert his comrades and flee to the Yellow Sea, survived.

The battle opened the route for Japanese to advance to Yellow Sea, and Todo set up the plan to attack Hanyang from both land and sea with Kato Kiyomasa and Konishi Yukinaga. However, Japan's hopes were crushed again by Yi Sun Shin's return at the Battle of Myeongnyang, which would decide the winner of the devastating war.

Won Gyun is looked upon poorly by many people due do this total lack of military competency, poor management skills, and terrible leadership traits.^{[citation needed]}

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+{{unreferenced}}
+{{cleanup}}
 {{koreanname|
 hangul=원균|
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 == Early life and education ==
-Won was a member of [[Wonju]] Won family. His father once bought a seat in local governmnet and was promptly removed due to incompetency and corruption charges brought against him.
+Won was a member of [[Wonju]] Won family. His father once bought a seat in local governmnet and was promptly removed due to incompetency and corruption charges brought against him.{{fact}}
 == Military career ==
@@ Line 20: / Line 22: @@
 On April 13, 1592, the Japanese fleet under [[Kato Kiyomasa]] launched a sudden strike on the Eastern Fleet of Gyeongsang province, and disabled every ship under its control. The main army under Kato and [[Konishi Yukinaga]] landed on Korean Peninsula on the next day, and marched northward. Won, who was commander of the Western Fleet of Kyungsang province, was also routed by the invading Japanese, and in a panic he hastily sunk most of his own battleships. Many of his staff strongly advised against the action but they had little to no effect. Few officers under Won's command volunteered to serve under Yi's command when they lost their command due to Won's action. These transfers were never authorized by Won himself but the transfer occurred anyway due to the critical shortage of qualified combat leaders. With only 4 ships left under his command, Won called for help from Yi Sun Shin, who had prepared for war and raised a smaller and battle ready fleet than that of Won. However Yi told Won that he required permission from the royal court to cross the boundary between the two different fleets. Which, ironically was requested by Won and King approved it on his behalf prior to the invasion. [[Seonjo of Joseon|King Seonjo]] finally ordered both admirals to fight against Japanese on May 2, 1592, and finally Won and Yi began their campaign two days later, along with Admiral [[Yi Eok-gi]], the commander of the Western Fleet of Jeolla Province.
-On May 7th, the Korean navy under Yi destroyed a Japanese fleet in the [[Battle of Okpo]]. Later Won was promoted to an army general, while Yi Sun Shin became naval commander-in-chief. Won's promotion was largely supported by the King himself who was in desperate need to find a political figure who can counter the rising popularity of Yi in both the royal court and people of Joseon. Won's phony battle report, which substantially enlarged his effort to the victory while downsizing that of Yi's, was submitted to the royal court as a supporting justification for the promotion.
+On May 7th, the Korean navy under Yi destroyed a Japanese fleet in the [[Battle of Okpo]]. Later Won was promoted to an army general, while Yi Sun Shin became naval commander-in-chief. Won's promotion was largely supported by the King himself who was in desperate need to find a political figure who can counter the rising popularity of Yi in both the royal court and people of Joseon. {{fact}} Won's phony battle report, which substantially enlarged his effort to the victory while downsizing that of Yi's, was submitted to the royal court as a supporting justification for the promotion.
 In 1597, Japanese decided to stop all negotiations with the Koreans and [[China|Chinese]] [[Ming Dynasty]], and planned a re-invasion of Korea. To do so, they plotted to remove Admiral Yi Sun Shin from the navy. Japanese spies directed by Konishi Yukinaga spread word that Kato Kiyomasa was urging other Japanese to continue fighting and would soon be crossing the sea. King Seonjo ordered Admiral Yi to capture Kato, but Yi refused to do so as he knew that the words were the fabrications of Japanese agents. In fear of a possible Coup d'état attempt by Yi, which was never plotted, King Seonjo ordered the execution of Yi. The royal court reluctantly yet successfully resisted the order and was able to lower the punishment to imprisonment and demotion of Yi to a rank of seaman. Seonjo then replaced Yi with his political puppet, Won Gyun, as the chief of naval operations.
-However Won also knew the information was false, and did not advance toward [[Busan]] for same tactical reasons Yi reported to the royal court prior to his removal from the post. The government continued to trust the information and ordered Won to attack Japanese ships at Ungcheon, and Won attacked Japanese, who were mostly unarmed and protected under the cease-fire treaty, and defeated them. He lost one of his battleship and the captain during the attack. He did not advance anymore after receiving a letter of protest from Japanese commander. Then Field Marshal [[Gwon Yool]], famous for the battle of Fort Hangjoo and was also under heavy pressure from the royal court and the king himself as well, recalled Won to his headquarters and once again ordered him to attack Busan. When Won refused,  Gwon ordered Won to be clubbed in front of him for disobeying orders. The punishment was never given to an admiral before. Won could not disobey the command of the royal court anymore and led Korean navy toward Busan, along with famous admiral Yi Eok Ki. It is worth of noting Won actually advised the king to order the attack while Yi was still the chief of naval operation and also cited that he can mount a successful attack on Japanese fleet in Busan and the city itself. This report was highly politically motivated and little to no tactical analysis was included. The king used it to its full potential as this report was submitted to the royal court to remove Yi from his post for disobeying the king's order.
+However Won also knew the information was false, and did not advance toward [[Busan]] for same tactical reasons Yi reported to the royal court prior to his removal from the post.{{fact}} The government continued to trust the information and ordered Won to attack Japanese ships at Ungcheon, and Won attacked Japanese, who were mostly unarmed and protected under the cease-fire treaty, and defeated them. He lost one of his battleship and the captain during the attack. He did not advance anymore after receiving a letter of protest from Japanese commander. Then Field Marshal [[Gwon Yool]], famous for the battle of Fort Hangjoo and was also under heavy pressure from the royal court and the king himself as well, recalled Won to his headquarters and once again ordered him to attack Busan. When Won refused,  Gwon ordered Won to be clubbed in front of him for disobeying orders. The punishment was never given to an admiral before. Won could not disobey the command of the royal court anymore and led Korean navy toward Busan, along with famous admiral Yi Eok Ki. It is worth of noting Won actually advised the king to order the attack while Yi was still the chief of naval operation and also cited that he can mount a successful attack on Japanese fleet in Busan and the city itself. This report was highly politically motivated and little to no tactical analysis was included. The king used it to its full potential as this report was submitted to the royal court to remove Yi from his post for disobeying the king's order.
 The Japanese at first seemed to retreat, but it was a trick to trap the Korean fleet. The Japanese already prepared to devastate the Korean navy prior to land invasion and the number of Japanese ships was great that most Koreans were already frightened including Admiral [[Bae Seol]]. The Japanese fleet, commanded by famous naval commander [[Todo Tokatora]], advanced toward Won Gyun's fleets. Won knew that he would lose the battle, but had no choice but to face the enemy. At the [[Battle of Chilchonryang]], the Korean navy was utterly destroyed, and Won, who tried to escape by land, was killed by the surrounding Japanese, the accuracy of his death is still in debate as there are many reports of him being alive and well after the battle. The royal court, however, issued official report of his death after the war. There is a good chance the report was fabricated to cover the king's own fault of removing Yi out of his post and thus letting the entire fleet to be distorted in single battle. Only 12 ships under Bae Seol, who had decided to desert his comrades and flee to the [[Yellow Sea]], survived.
@@ Line 30: / Line 32: @@
 The battle opened the route for Japanese to advance to Yellow Sea, and Todo set up the plan to attack [[Seoul|Hanyang]] from both land and sea with Kato Kiyomasa and Konishi Yukinaga. However, Japan's hopes were crushed again by Yi Sun Shin's return at the [[Battle of Myeongnyang]], which would decide the winner of the devastating war.
-Won Gyun is looked upon poorly by many people due do this total lack of military competency, poor management skills, and terrible leadership traits.
+Won Gyun is looked upon poorly by many people due do this total lack of military competency, poor management skills, and terrible leadership traits.{{fact}}
 ==See also==