Chŏng Kiryong
Chŏng Kiryong was a prominent Korean general during the Joseon period. He fought against the 1592–1598 Japanese invasions of Korea, and won the battles of Geochang and Geumsan. He was one of those who recaptured the Sangju castle, captured the Japanese general in Goryeong, and recaptured Seongju, Hapcheon, Uiryeong, Gyeongju and Ulsan.
Chŏng Kiryong was born in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province in 1562. His original name was Chŏng Musu. He was the son of Chŏng Ho, Fourth State Councillor. In 1586, he passed the military examination and renamed Kiryong by the King's command.
In 1590, he got to serve as a drill instructor under the Sin Rip, Commander of the Right Gyeongsangdo. When the war broke in 1592, he got promoted to manager, starting to serve under the Cho Gyeong, Marshal of the Right Gyeongsangdo.
At that time, he has recommended to General a scheme to check an advance of Japanese army, as a consequence of complying his artifice, they have destroyed 500 of Japanese army in a Battle of Geochang.
He has jumped in the Battle of Geumsan and saved Cho Kyŏng who was captured by Japanese army as a prisoner of war.
After then he defended against the Japanese armies' attack at Jeolla province as appointed as the Lord of Gonyang. In succession, after he was appointed the lord of Sangju which was lost by the Japanese army, he reseized that castle of Sangju by fighting with that Japanese army.
As soon as the second war broke out against the Japan in 1597, his Joseon army broke the Japanese army Goryeong and captured the chief of the Japanese army alive. In succession, he reseized many castles such as Seongju, Hapcheon, Chogye, Uiryeong, Kyungju and Ulsan and then was promoted to Commander of the Right Gyeongsangdo.
After he had led the Joseon-Ming combined forces in the year 1598, he swept the remnants of the defeated Japanese army in the areas of Gyeongsang provinces.
General Chŏng kept staying in Gyeongsang provinces and prepared to prevent the reinvasion of the Japan, though the war against the Japan ended in the year 1601.
He was promoted as a field marshal in 1610, and after that as an admiral of the fleet he undertook the naval commander of the Three Provinces and died in camp of Tongyeong in 1622.