Battle of Kuju

The Battle of Gwiju, which occurred in 1019, was the major battle during the Third Goryeo-Khitan War (1018-1019).

After crossing the Aprok River, the Khitan troops invaded Korea. But the Korean general Gang Gam-chan dammed a stream and released it as the Khitan troops were crossing. Despite suffering significant casualties, some Khitan troops marched to Gaegyeong, the capital of Korea.

During their campaign, general Gang Gam-chan cut the supplies of the Khitan troops and harassed them relentlessly. Exhausted, the Khitan troops decided to retreat hastily northward. Monitoring the movement of their troops, general Gang Gam-chan attacked them in the vicinity of Gwiju, ending in a complete victory for the Goryeo Dynasty.

Aftermath

After the battle, peace negotiations followed and the Khitan did not invade Korea again.^[1] Korea entered in a long and peaceful period with their foreign neighbours across the Aprok river. The victory at the battle of Hong-Hwa-Jin is today called one of the three greatest military victories (other victories are Battle of Salsu and Battle of Hansando) in Korean history. It is said through texts in the Goryeosa and Goryeo Dogyeong that tens of thousands of Khitan soldiers held prisoners during the battle were relocated to Namgyeong, today's Seoul, while some worked as engineers in the nation's silk industry.

See also

• Goryeo-Khitan Wars
• First Goryeo-Khitan War
• Second Goryeo-Khitan War
• Third Goryeo-Khitan War
• Gang Gam-chan
• Siege of Kusong

References