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Wokou Piracy in Korea (1390s)

Type Event Region East Asia Time 1390–1399

In the 1390s, the newly founded Joseon dynasty continuously suffered wokou (Japanese pirate) raids from Kyushu and other parts of Japan, with coastal…

Timeline

  1. 1390–1394Jeolla Province coast · Korean PeninsulaWokou fleets frequently raided Korea's western coast, plundering people and goods. Local government defenses were weak, and the court faced a severe maritime security crisis.
  2. 1395–1399Hanseong · Korean PeninsulaThe Korean court built additional coastal fortresses, deployed naval forces, and through diplomatic channels demanded that the Sō clan of Tsushima restrain the wokou. The coastal defense system gradually took shape but the threat was still not eradicated.

Sources