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Joseon's Anti-Wokou Defense System

Type Event Region Joseon Time 1461–1469

In the 1460s, under King Sejo, Joseon continued and refined its coastal defense and garrison system against wokou pirates, building on Sejong-era nav…

Timeline

  1. 1461–1465Coasts of Jeolla and Gyeongsang provinces · Gyeongsang ProvinceBuilding on the three-tier garrison system established in 1457 under King Sejo, the 1460s saw continued addition of small coastal posts and improvement of the beacon network, enabling rapid assembly of land and naval forces for joint defense when wokou raids occurred.
  2. 1463–1467Naval bases in Chungcheong and Jeolla provinces · Jeolla ProvinceFollowing the Sejong-era practice of moving warships offshore to expand patrol radii, the 1460s saw the appointment of naval commanders in each province, strengthening warship maintenance and coastal patrols to counter wokou raids.
  3. 1469Busanpo, Naepo, and Yeompo (Sampo) · Gyeongsang ProvinceLate in King Yeongjong's reign, orders were issued to ban private trade with Japan at the Sampo ports, aiming to sever links between wokou and smuggling; this was an important measure extending 1460s anti-wokou policy from military defense to trade control.

Sources