Incompetence of ruling elite in the past

By Choe Chong-dae

Throughout the medieval period, the development of gunpowder played a pivotal role in wars all over the world and shaped what were to become modern states.

Matchlock guns were introduced to Japan when three Portuguese traders aboard a Chinese commercial vessel were shipwrecked off Tanegashima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture in 1543. During the ship's stay there, feudal lord Tokitaka Tanegashima (1528-79) invited the Portuguese to his residence. He was aware that the Portuguese possessed an oblong object that had special features.

Although Tokitaka was only 15 years old at that time, his keen mind could see the matchlock guns' immense potential to increase Japan's strength. He ordered Yaita Kinbe, an iron maker, to make a matchlock gun of the same type. To gain access to the technology, Yaita had his daughter Wakasa marry a Portuguese crewman. Finally, Tokitaka acquired the precious technological know-how for manufacturing the European portable matchlock.

Consequently, the development of the copied Portuguese guns transformed Japan's history and marked its opening up to the West. It had a significant impact during the Japanese civil wars and later bolstered Japan's military power. Ironically, it motivated Japan to invade the Joseon Kingdom of Korea in what's called the “Japanese Hideyoshi Invasions” starting in 1592.

In Korea, much earlier than Japan's development of Western guns, Choi Mu-seon invented and developed the “hwatong dogam,” a type of ballistic weapon that fired shells toward targets. It was very effective at combating foreign pirates from 1374 to 1376 during the Goryeo Kingdom. Later, a kind of cannon named “cheonja chongtong” was produced in 1555 during the Joseon Kingdom. However, Korea failed to develop modern portable firearms until the 17th century.

After Japan's adoption of the Portuguese gun, Korea had the golden opportunity to develop its own modern gun, but the chance was lost mainly due to the ignorance and incompetence of Joseon aristocrats.

When a Chinese ship drifted ashore on Jeju Island in 1545, Korean officials discovered there was a Chinese sailor who knew how to make guns. Recognizing the value of guns, the Board of Defense Council petitioned King Myeongjong to produce guns in Korea. But the proposal was rejected. Afterwards, Harinaga Oya, a Japanese from Tsushima Island, proposed to Korea that he would provide the technology to produce gunpowder if Korea granted his intention to be naturalized to Korea. Although his request was approved, it is unknown how much he contributed to the development of guns in Korea.

Eventually, during the Japanese invasions of 1592-98, the modern portable Japanese guns that were markedly superior to those of China and Korea devastated Korea.

Furthermore, due to the gross incompetence of the Korean ruling elite at that time, King Injo of Joseon surrendered to the emperor of the Chinese Qing Dynasty in the war of the “Byeongja Horan” or the second Manchu invasion of Korea in 1636. It is one of the nation's most humiliating incidents. The invasion resulted from Korea's refusal to receive Qing's envoys who demanded the establishment of diplomatic ties with Joseon, which would have resulted in the acknowledgement by the Korean kingdom of their commonwealth status in relation to Qing. The refusal led to the invasion of Korea by the Qing military.

Japan's opening to the West has had a profound impact on me and should serve as a good roadmap showing how Korea will protect itself against the challenges posed by foreign powers and North Korea's nuclear weapons. North Korea's recent ballistic missile launches serve as a reminder that we should not repeat the tragic mistakes of the past.

Choe Chong-dae (choecd@naver.com) is a guest columnist of The Korea Times. He is president of Dae-kwang International Co., and director of the Korean-Swedish Association.