광해군의 대외정책(對外政策) 재론(再論) = A Reappraisal of Gwanghagun`s Diplomatic Policy

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

During the reign of King Gwanghagun(1608∼1623), the rapid growth of Houchin(後金) and its political and military challenge toward Ming shook the relation between Choson and Ming. Choson under the reign of Gwanghagun tried to appease Houchin and evade its invasion. At that time, there were two important problems for Gwanghagun to solve. One was to take proper step of defense against Houchin`s invasion, and the other was to avoid Ming`s forcible demand to have Choson pick a quarrel with Houchin. In 1618, Ming forced Choson to enter in the war with Houchin. Gwanghagun tried to devise all the measures to avoid entering in the war, in vain to fail. After ``Shimha battle``, the war with Houchin in 1619, Ming reclaimed the military aid to Choson. But Gwanghagun snubbed the demand, also rejecting to accept Ming`s refugees who had lived in Liaodong area and were driven into Choson by the war, as well as evading to help Mao Wenlung(毛文龍), a general of Ming. These policies were devised to have a harmonious relations with Houchin. The remarkable diplomatic ability of Gwanghagun was formed through the experience of Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592, and the observation of his father Seonjo`s foreign policy to Houchin. His foreign policy, however, had a limit not to harmonize with the domestic policy. At once refusing Ming`s draft and mapping out a defensive strategy, he built a great palace, which deepened financial straits. He defied public opinion that the excessive palace engineering should be done away with. This obstinacy of his provided his opposition party with the cause of trouble. Soon he had but a few intimate subjects to assist him, later even they turned their back from Gwanghagun. Finally Gwanghagun was collapsed by ``Injo Banjeong``, a military coup d etat in 1623. Gwanghagun`s failures in domestic administrations should be criticized extremely. But his diplomatic policies toward Ming, Houchin, and Japan were cautious and inevitable, and excellent. Why? Because the Choson, surrounded by powers on three sides, had no choice but to resort to clever diplomatic policies.