Goryeo Navy

Timeline

1. 1371–1374Southeastern Jeolla coast · South Jeolla ProvinceAround 1371, wokou raided coastal villages of Jeolla and Gyeongsang; the Goryeo navy sortied warships to patrol and block landings. Naval troops aboard panokseon and small and medium warcraft, cooperating with coastal beacons and local militia, maintained basic coastal defense order during the reign of King Gongmin.
2. 1375–1377Gyeongsang coastal areas · Gyeongsang ProvinceAround 1375, the famed general Choi Yeong took office as commander of troops, directing land and naval forces to clear out wokou. Under his command the navy fought repeatedly on the southern sea and east coast, capturing wokou ships and recovering plundered towns, greatly boosting military prestige and becoming one of the most combat-effective forces of late Goryeo.
3. 1378–1380West Sea and Yalu River mouth · Yellow SeaIn 1378, Ming envoys' demand for the former Liaodong territories caused diplomatic tension; Goryeo reinforced naval patrols in the West Sea and at the Yalu River mouth, guarding against a Ming crossing and wokou exploiting the opening. By around 1380, besides anti-wokou duties the navy also maintained watch over sea routes toward Ming, and the coastal defense system barely held under multiple pressures.