Gwak Jae-u Raises a Militia

About ten days into the war Gwak Jae-u raised a volunteer militia in Uiryeong, and militias soon rose across the country.

Gwak Jae-u, a disciple of Jo Sik, was living in his home county of Uiryeong without office. As the government army collapsed, he spent his family fortune to arm his servants and neighbours. Dressed in red at the front of his men, he became known as the "Red-Robed General". Using the terrain of the Nakdong and Nam rivers for guerrilla attacks, he harassed the Japanese, and at Jeongamjin he stopped a force heading for Jeolla, helping to protect the granary of the south. Go Gyeong-myeong, Jo Heon, Kim Cheon-il and the monks Hyujeong and Yujeong soon raised their own forces.