Pak Hong

Pak Hong (; 1534—1593) was a Korean military leader of the mid-Joseon period. Born in 1534, Pak Hong passed the military examination in 1556 and was appointed as a Military Inspector. He held a series of provincial posts, including Assistant Magistrate of Kanggye, Chongpyong, and Chongsŏng. By 1592, he had risen to the position of Provincial Naval Commander of Left Gyeongsang just as the Imjin War erupted.

When the Japanese invaded, he confronted the enemy's vanguard but, faced with overwhelming odds, burned his main camp and retreated to Chungnyŏng. Upon learning that Choryŏng had also fallen, he withdrew toward the capital. On his way to the royal court-in-exile, he encountered Supreme Commander Kim Myŏngwŏn, who appointed him Left Division Commander. Pak then participated in the defense of the Imjin River and engaged the Japanese force at Paju, but was defeated and fled to Pyongyang.

After arriving in Pyongyang, he was impeached by officials for abandoning his post and violating military discipline. However, the charges were dropped in light of the wartime situation and his continued service during the retreat. When Pyongyang fell, he joined Yi Il in Pyongsan to rally troops. Soon after, he was assigned to escort the Crown Prince Gwanghae from Icheon to Songchon and was appointed Right Division Commander and Commander of the Volunteer Forces.

He returned to the Pyongyang front and fought in several engagements, though without notable distinction. After the city was retaken in early 1593, he continued operations as far as Paju with Kim Myŏngwŏn. His chronic illness recurred during the campaign, and he died on his way home for treatment. He was posthumously granted Vice Minister of War and further elevated to Minister of War.

Early life and career Pak Hong was born in 1534 in Taehŭng-hyŏn , Chungcheong Province. His father, Pak Yŏngmu, had served as an Assistant Administrator , and his mother was a daughter of Chŏng In'gŏl. |labels=no). He later held various posts, including Assistant Magistrate of Kanggye, Administrative Assistant , Magistrate of Isan , and Inspector of the Office of the Royal Sons-in-Law . During his tenure as Magistrate of Chongpyong, he received multiple commendations, though he was dismissed after five years.

In 1572, when banditry erupted in the Haeseo region, Pak was recommended for appointment as Magistrate of Pyongsan to oversee the path of an incoming Ming diplomatic mission. |labels=no) of the Border Defense Council, Subarea Commander of Ch'ŏnsŏng , and then Garrison Commander of Busan. |labels=no), as well as Magistrate of . In 1587, following the death of his father, he retired from office. |labels=no) of Left Gyeongsang. Likewise, the Office of the Inspector-General recommended that Pak Hong be punished according to the law.

Pak preserved the remaining troops in the vicinity and transitioned to land-based operations. Leading these forces, Pak departed from the Naval Headquarters and arrived at Sosan Post Station , where Yi Kak had already established a defensive encampment. The two commanders advanced together to the immediate rear of Dongnae Fortress but were repelled by Japanese reserve forces and forced to fall back to Sosan. On the afternoon of the 15th, Pak Chin, the Magistrate of Miryang, arrived with reinforcements, intending to relieve the fortress. However, their combined attempt to confront the Japanese vanguard—now occupying Dongnae—was unsuccessful, and Pak Hong withdrew once more. He later regrouped with Yi Kak in Eonyang, but as the Japanese continued their advance, Pak retreated further to Gyeongju.

Advance northward At Gyeongju, Pak Hong disbanded the remaining naval forces of the Left Gyeongsang Naval Command and withdrew with Song Ŭnggil and Pak Chongnam to defend Chungnyŏng Pass . Upon hearing that Choryŏng Pass had fallen to the enemy, he proceeded toward Hansŏng. He subsequently participated in the defense of the Imjin River.

At Paju, Pak engaged Japanese forces alongside Sin Hal and Yu Kŭngnyang . However, their forces were defeated; Sin Hal and Yu Kŭngnyang were killed in action, and only Pak managed to retreat to the Imjin River. When the lower Imjin River defenses collapsed, Pak withdrew to Pyongyang with Kim Myŏngwŏn to defend Taedong River and assumed the role of Auxiliary Defense Commander , Pak Hong was further posthumously elevated to Minister of War and concurrently Deputy Director of the State Tribunal.