Volta
Conflict28 April 1592(Lunar)

Battle of Tangeumdae

Also called: Battle of Chungju

Sin Rip made a stand with a river at his back at Tangeumdae, Chungju, against Konishi Yukinaga’s Japanese army, but was routed and died. When Chungju fell, King Seonjo fled the capital.

Tangeumdae, Chungju — the hill on the Namhan River where Sin Rip made his stand in 1592
Tangeumdae, Chungju — the hill on the Namhan River where Sin Rip made his stand in 1592

Epcw9999 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

After Yi Il was defeated at Sangju, the court sent Sin Rip south as commander. Rejecting advice to hold the narrow pass of Saejae (Joryeong), he came out onto the Chungju plain, where his cavalry could manoeuvre, and drew up with his back to the river at Tangeumdae, where the Dal stream meets the Namhan. On the 28th of the fourth month the first Japanese division attacked behind its muskets; the Korean horsemen, bogged down in soft paddy fields, collapsed, and Sin Rip threw himself into the river.

At the news from Chungju, King Seonjo left Hanyang for the north on the 30th, and the Japanese entered the capital in early fifth month. Tangeumdae is said to be where Ureuk played the gayageum in Silla times.

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The map in 1592

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States and rulers at the time
Joseon · defeated — Seonjo
Japan · victor

People

  • Sin Rip1546 – 1592

    commander · General who made a back-to-the-river stand at Tangeumdae, Chungju, early in the Imjin War and died when routed by Konishi Yukinaga

  • Konishi Yukinaga1558 – 1600

    commander · Led the first Japanese division from the Busan landing up to Pyongyang

Before and after

Earlier
1592 Battle of Sangju
Later
1592 King Seonjo Flees North

Themes that include this event

  • ChungjuAD 450 – 1895

    From the Goguryeo stele to Tangeumdae — Jungwon, the middle of the Namhan River route that the Three Kingdoms fought over