고종후 高從厚
Eldest son of Ko Gyeong-myeong who raised a revenge army and died in the second Battle of Jinju; pen name Junbong, posthumous title Hyoyeol
| Life | 1554 ~ 1593 |
| Era | 조선 중기 |
| Clan | 장흥 고씨 |
Life & career
Ko Jong-hu (1554-1593) was a mid-Joseon civil official and righteous-army leader of the Jangheung Ko clan, with courtesy name Dochung, pen name Junbong and posthumous title Hyoyeol. He was the eldest son of Ko Gyeong-myeong and elder brother of Ko In-hu. He passed the civil examination under King Seonjo and rose to magistrate of Impi but returned home after impeachment.
When his father raised the volunteer army in 1592 he wrote the call to arms and helped supply grain and war horses. After his father and brother fell at Geumsan he gathered their bodies and brought them by cart back to Gwangju.
The next year he called himself the "Revenge General", raised volunteers, trained them at Gwangju and marched to Jinju. In the sixth month of 1593, when Jinju fell in the second siege where he fought beside Kim Cheon-il, Choe Gyeong-hoe and Hwang Jin, he threw himself into the Nam River from Chokseongnu; the family servants Bong-i and Gwi-in are said to have jumped with him.
The Three Heroes and Honors
Ko Jong-hu is described as one of the "three heroes" of Jinju together with Kim Cheon-il and Choe Gyeong-hoe, who also died at the fortress. He was first posthumously made Senior Royal Secretary and later Minister of Personnel, and under King Sukjong received the title Hyoyeol.
He is enshrined at Pochungsa and at Changyeolsa in Jinju, and annual rites are held at Pochungsa in Gwangju.
Meaning of the Revenge Army
Ko Jong-hu's revenge army began from a personal vow to avenge his father and brother, yet belonged to the movement by which Honam volunteers reinforced the defense of Jinju. Because filial devotion and loyalty to the state met in one man, the character for filial piety is said to appear in his posthumous title.
Grave
He died at Jinju Fortress; his remains are said not to have been recovered, and his tomb could not be confirmed here. He is honored at Pochungsa in Gwangju and Changyeolsa in Jinju.