Military Training Agency
The Military Training Agency, alternately translated as Military Training Command was founded in 1593, when the Imjin War of 1592–1598 was in progress. As the Joseon Army was struggling against the Japanese army's muskets, a new army was created as a countermeasure. It aimed to organize and train an elite force by instituting a system of providing salaries to all soldiers. It was the only military camp among the five major military camps that provided salaries to all its troops. However, due to the deterioration of the national finances, discussions about its abolition were often held. The Training Headquarters became the core military camp, along with the Geumwi Camp, the Eoyeongcheong Camp, and together they were called the Samgunmun, the three main military camps of the central government, responsible for protecting the king and defending the capital.
Background
Originally, the military system in Joseon was the Yangin Gaebyeongje, where all able-bodied men became soldiers. They worked in agriculture during the summer and trained for defense in the winter. Joseon divided these Yangin soldiers into five guards called Owi and utilized them as soldiers. However, as time went by, instead of receiving military training, the Yangin soldiers started paying money to avoid military service, and by the end of the 16th century, the actual military force was almost non-existent. During the early Joseon period, the protection of the king was carried out by the Naegeumwi, Gyeomsabok, and Urimwi.In this situation, in 1592, Joseon faced the Japanese invasions, and King Seonjo had to rely on the Ming Dynasty and flee to Uiju. As the number of Royal Guards decreased in the 16th century, the Training Command was established during the Imjin War, and its members became elite soldiers who received salaries and were entrusted with the task of protecting the king. Eventually, to overcome the war, a new military camp was established, and that was the Military Training Agency. The Training Command was also known as "Yeonhachinbyeong", which means a unit that directly guards the king under his supervision. They initially guarded the temporary residence of King Seonjo in Jeongneung-dong, and later they were stationed in the palace throughout the late Joseon period, protecting the king.
In July 1593, they entrusted the training of Huap'o to Naksangji, a skilled general of the Ming Dynasty, and focused on developing artillery forces. As a result, the Training Headquarters was established in August, and a conscription system was implemented to operate it as a reserve army. They also acquired the book Jixiao Xinshu written by the Ming general Qi Jiguang to establish a training method based on the Samsubyeong system. The Samsubyeong system divided soldiers into three categories: Salsu, who primarily used swords, Sashu, who primarily used bows, and Posu, who primarily used firearms. Among them, the Posu soldiers were the largest in number and played a major role.
Establishment
The establishment of the Military Training Agency was concretized after the events following the Imjin War, when King Seonjo fled and then returned in October of the 26th year of his reign. The Military Training Agency was a new central military camp established to overcome the Japanese invasions of Korea. When the existing military system collapsed during the war, the Training Headquarters was established as a policy to address the situation. At that time, based on the suggestions of military commanders such as Ryu Seong-ryong, who held military command as the Three Provinces Military Inspector, the Training Manual was established with a focus on relieving the hungry and cultivating elite soldiers, providing a monthly salary of 9 dou and organizing them as specialized troops in artillery, combat, and marksmanship according to the Zhejiang Military Strategy in the military treatise Jixiao Xinshu. Therefore, the Training Manual Army was organized as a specialized unit of the Three Provinces troops, with a focus on the principles of "treating many as treating few" and emphasizing "clear responsibilities and disciplined squads" based on the fundamental spirit of Jixiao Xinshu. However, although it was organized as a specialized unit of the three types of soldiers, it was primarily organized around artillery for overcoming the Imjin War. Therefore, the Military Training Agency was initially established as artillery and later incorporated the Volunteer Corps as assassins and included gatekeepers and archers, and the organization as a three-type soldier was achieved after June of the 27th year of King Seonjo's reign.The establishment of the Military Training Agency, as can be seen from its name as "Doe-gam," was not a legally supported military camp from the beginning. In other words, in the initial stages of its establishment, it was a temporary military camp that literally divided the national army into three types and trained them professionally to overcome the Imjin War. However, it gradually became a permanent military camp for the defense of the capital after the restoration, and there were many twists and turns in this process.
Organization
In September 1593 as a single military camp when King Seonjo and Ryu Seong-Ryong established the Military Training Agency. At this time, the Samsubyeong system was formed, referring to the Jixiao Xinshu written by Qi Jiguang, a general of the Ming Dynasty who contributed to the eradication of Japanese pirates. The agency carefully divided the army into units and companies. The companies had archers, arquebusiers, sworders, and spear infantry squads. The agency set up army divisions in each region of Korea and garrisoned battalions at castles. The upper-class citizens and enslaved people were subject to the draft. All males had to enter military service to be trained and familiarized with weapons. It was also around this time that the military scholar Han Gyo wrote the martial arts manual Muyejebo, based on the Jixiao Xinshu by Qi Jiguang.Headquarters
The headquarters of the dojang was located in Yoo-gyeong-dong, Seoul, while the "糧餉廳" which supplied grains and military supplies to the dojang, was located in Namboo-hun, Hwon-tao. As the size of the dojang grew, various barracks such as "北營", "南營", "新營", "下都監", "北一營", and "西營" were built. The North Camp was located outside Gongbeok Gate in Won-dong, the South Camp was located outside Dunhwa Gate of Changdeok Palace, the New Camp was located outside Hwagye Palace, the Lower Metropolitan Camp was located east of Hunryeonwon in Namboo Mingjeol-dong, the North First Camp was located outside Wude Gate of Gyeonghuigung Palace, and the West Camp was located outside Sungui Gate of Gyeonghuigung Palace. This arrangement of various public offices of the dojang around these palaces is believed to be due to the frequent presence of the king in Changdeok Palace or Gyeonghuigung Palace.Command Structure
The Training Headquarters served as both a central government agency and a military camp. It was filled with numerous government officials and commanders.In the early stages of its establishment, the Military Training Agency had a "Daejang" as the chief military officer and directly responsible for military command, and under them were the "Junggun" and "Cheonsap" who directly commanded the troops, and they were connected through the organization of "Si-Ho-Qi-Dae-Wu." However, as the organization grew and strengthened, a "Dutychong" who also served as a "Yijung" responsible for politics was added, and a "Taejang" who directly assumed military responsibility was placed under the "Daejang," along with a "Junggun", two "Byeongjang", two "Cheonsap", three "Jukbyeongjang", six "Bajung", four "Chongsa-gwan", and 34 "Cheogwan" as commanders.
After 1594, the three-technique soldier system could be established. The organization of the Military Training Institute consisted of one 1st class Dojejo, who concurrently held the position of Uijeong and was the highest-ranking position in name within the Training Agency. The Dojejo served in rotation as Samuijeong. The two Jejo positions were naturally held by the Chief Military Administrators, and Hojopanseo, were the central figures.. Although they held higher positions than the 2nd class Training Commander, the actual authority and command of the Training Headquarters were held by the Training Commander, who was responsible for all affairs of the Training Headquarters. Therefore, the Training Commander became a position of great influence. The Training Headquarters was the only standing army and had the largest number of troops, consisting of elite soldiers who constantly underwent military training. Once appointed, the Training Commander naturally held the position for a long time.
The organization also included one Chief General, two 2nd class Jejo, one 2nd class Daegjang, one 2nd class Middle General, two 3rd class special generals, two 3rd class Cheonchong, three 3rd class Gukbyeoljang, six 4th class Pachong, six 6th class Jongsagwan, and thirty-four 9th class Chogwan to form the command structure.
In the late Joseon period, most Training Commanders were military officers from the Mu Shin Clan. They were mostly relatives of the royal family, meritorious officials, or close relatives. In other words, individuals who had close blood or kinship ties with the king were appointed as Training Commanders. For example, it is said that the reason for the success of the Injo Restoration was because they incorporated Lee Heung-rip, who was the Training Commander at the time, and the Training Commander had such authority that they could determine the fate of a country.
In the beginning, it was originally a temporary organization of a total of 80 people who served as Training Commanders in the late Joseon period. In particular, Yi Gi-ha, Yu Hyuk-yeon, Yi Hwan, and Kim Seong-eung served as Training Commanders for over 10 years and operated the Training Headquarters under the trust of the king. The Nungseong-gu Clan and Pyeongsan-shin Clan were the families that produced the most Training Commanders. Gu In-hu and Gu Sun-bok, Shin Gyeong-jin, and Shin Heon are representative figures.