황진 黃進
Joseon general who fought at Ichi and died at the Second Siege of Jinju; courtesy name Myeongbo, posthumous title Mumin
| Life | 1550 ~ 1593 |
| Era | 조선 중기 |
| Clan | 장수 황씨 |
Life & career
Hwang Jin (黃進, 1550-1593) was a Joseon general of the Jangsu Hwang clan; courtesy name Myeongbo, posthumous title Mumin. Wikipedia says he was born in Jusaeng-myeon, Namwon, and passed the military examination, serving as a royal guard official. The year of passing is given as both 1572 and 1576. Press accounts call him a fifth-generation descendant of Hwang Hui, while Wikipedia says he accompanied his kinsman Hwang Yun-gil to Japan in 1590.
When the war broke out he fought under Yi Gwang and, at the 1592 Battle of Ichi, defeated the Japanese together with Gwon Yul, being wounded by a bullet. The battle is regarded as having stopped the advance into Jeolla; for it he was made magistrate of Iksan and assistant commander in Chungcheong, and the next year military commander of Chungcheong.
In 1593 he fought at Suwon, Juksan and Anseong and chased the retreating Japanese to Sangju, then took part in the Second Siege of Jinju in June and died in the resistance. Korean Wikipedia gives nine days and age 44, while English Wikipedia says about six days and two arquebus bullets, so sources differ. He was posthumously made Second Minister of the Left, and in 1611 King Gwanghae-gun granted the title Mumin and a memorial gate.
Battle of Ichi
Ichi is a pass between Wanju in North Jeolla and Geumsan in South Chungcheong where Japanese forces heading from Geumsan to Jeonju were stopped. Press commentary credits Hwang Jin, with Gwon Yul, with preventing an advance into Jeolla, and the Ungchi and Ichi battle sites were designated a national historic site in 2022. Wikipedia says he was wounded by a bullet in the fight.
Troop numbers differ from article to article, so no figure is given here.
Second Siege of Jinju and Death
In June 1593 Hwang Jin took part in the Second Siege of Jinju and died with figures such as Choe Gyeong-hoe and Kim Cheon-il. Wikipedia says he and Choe Gyeong-hoe became sworn brothers after studying neo-Confucianism together in 1562. He is said to be enshrined at Changnyeolsa in Jinju and at a Namwon shrine, but the latter name could not be confirmed in other sources.
Timeline
The order runs: born in Namwon 1550; passed the military examination in 1572 or 1576; visited Japan with the embassy in 1590; fought and was wounded at Ichi in 1592 and made magistrate of Iksan and assistant commander; military commander of Chungcheong and fought at Juksan and Anseong, chasing the enemy to Sangju, in 1593; killed at the Second Siege of Jinju in June 1593; posthumously raised to Second Minister of the Left, and given the title Mumin and a memorial gate in 1611.
A news report says a memorial rite is held in Namwon each year, but the exact schedule and place could not be confirmed here.
Grave
Not confirmed (not given in the sources consulted)
Descendants
A memorial rite for him is said to continue at a shrine in Daesan-myeon, Namwon, and a victory monument stands on Ichi pass. He is also said to be enshrined at Changnyeolsa in Jinju. See also the Jangsu Hwang clan page.