Pak Hong (; 1534âÂÂ1593) was a Korean military leader of the mid-Joseon period. Born in 1534, Pak Hong passed the military examination in 1556 and was appointed as a Military Inspector. He held a series of provincial posts, including Assistant Magistrate of Kanggye, Chongpyong, and Chongsà Âng. By 1592, he had risen to the position of Provincial Naval Commander of Left Gyeongsang just as the Imjin War erupted.
When the Japanese invaded, he confronted the enemy's vanguard but, faced with overwhelming odds, burned his main camp and retreated to Chungnyà Âng. Upon learning that Choryà Âng had also fallen, he withdrew toward the capital. On his way to the royal court-in-exile, he encountered Supreme Commander Kim Myà Ângwà Ân, who appointed him Left Division Commander. Pak then participated in the defense of the Imjin River and engaged the Japanese force at Paju, but was defeated and fled to Pyongyang.
After arriving in Pyongyang, he was impeached by officials for abandoning his post and violating military discipline. However, the charges were dropped in light of the wartime situation and his continued service during the retreat. When Pyongyang fell, he joined Yi Il in Pyongsan to rally troops. Soon after, he was assigned to escort the Crown Prince Gwanghae from Icheon to Songchon and was appointed Right Division Commander and Commander of the Volunteer Forces.
He returned to the Pyongyang front and fought in several engagements, though without notable distinction. After the city was retaken in early 1593, he continued operations as far as Paju with Kim Myà Ângwà Ân. His chronic illness recurred during the campaign, and he died on his way home for treatment. He was posthumously granted Vice Minister of War and further elevated to Minister of War.
Pak Hong was born in 1534 in Taehà Âng-hyà Ân (), Chungcheong Province. His father, Pak Yà Ângmu, had served as an Assistant Administrator (), and his mother was a daughter of Chà Âng In'gà Âl. In 1556, Pak passed the military service examination and was subsequently appointed Military Inspector (). He later held various posts, including Assistant Magistrate () of Kanggye, Administrative Assistant () of the Office of Palace Procurement (), Magistrate of Isan (), and Inspector () of the Office of the Royal Sons-in-Law (). During his tenure as Magistrate of Chongpyong, he received multiple commendations, though he was dismissed after five years.
In 1572, when banditry erupted in the Haeseo region, Pak was recommended for appointment as Magistrate of Pyongsan to oversee the path of an incoming Ming diplomatic mission. Following his mother's death, he temporarily withdrew from public service to observe the mourning period. He later served as Magistrate of Yeongam, staff officer () of the Border Defense Council, Subarea Commander () of Ch'à Ânsà Âng (), and then Garrison Commander () of Busan.
After a posting as Garrison Commander of Manpo in 1580, he was appointed Magistrate of in 1583. When unrest broke out among Jurchen groups in the northern region, he promptly assumed his post, suppressed the revolt, and rescued local inhabitants. He further strengthened the region's defenses by repairing the fortress, equipping weaponry, and training troops. He subsequently served as Military Protector (), as well as Magistrate of . In 1587, following the death of his father, he retired from office.
After completing his mourning period, Pak Hong was appointed Provincial Naval Commander () of Left Gyeongsang. On the 14th day of the 4th month in 1592, the Imjin War began with the Japanese assault on Busan. Pak promptly submitted a formal dispatch to the royal court, becoming the first to report the outbreak of hostilities.
Although tasked with leading naval operations against the Japanese forces, Pak was unable to mount effective resistance and ultimately retreated in the face of overwhelming opposition. Several factors contributed to this outcome: the naval forces under his command had not been placed on proper defensive alert, and the Japanese invasionâÂÂfar exceeding the scale of previous waegu (Japanese pirates) incursionsâÂÂwas launched as a surprise attack. These conditions rendered organized resistance highly difficult.
As the Japanese forces advanced from the captured stronghold of Busanjin toward Dongnae and the Naval Headquarters of Left Gyeongsang, Pak ordered the destruction of naval vessels, provisions, and military supplies at the base to prevent their capture. Pak Hong's initial actions were subject to criticism. Kim SÃ Ângil, serving as Ch'oyusa () of Right Gyeongang Province, remarked that "Left Naval Commander Pak Hong abandoned the fortress without discharging even a single arrow." Likewise, the Office of the Inspector-General recommended that Pak Hong be punished according to the law.
Pak preserved the remaining troops in the vicinity and transitioned to land-based operations. Leading these forces, Pak departed from the Naval Headquarters and arrived at Sosan Post Station (), where Yi Kak had already established a defensive encampment. The two commanders advanced together to the immediate rear of Dongnae Fortress but were repelled by Japanese reserve forces and forced to fall back to Sosan. On the afternoon of the 15th, Pak Chin, the Magistrate of Miryang, arrived with reinforcements, intending to relieve the fortress. However, their combined attempt to confront the Japanese vanguardâÂÂnow occupying DongnaeâÂÂwas unsuccessful, and Pak Hong withdrew once more. He later regrouped with Yi Kak in Eonyang, but as the Japanese continued their advance, Pak retreated further to Gyeongju.
At Gyeongju, Pak Hong disbanded the remaining naval forces of the Left Gyeongsang Naval Command and withdrew with Song à ¬nggil () and Pak Chongnam () to defend Chungnyà Âng Pass (). Upon hearing that Choryà Âng Pass () had fallen to the enemy, he proceeded toward Hansà Âng. While en route in search of King Seonjo's temporary court, which had relocated from the capital, Pak encountered Supreme Commander Kim Myà Ângwà Ân, who appointed him Left Division Commander. He subsequently participated in the defense of the Imjin River.
At Paju, Pak engaged Japanese forces alongside Sin Hal and Yu Kà Ângnyang (). However, their forces were defeated; Sin Hal and Yu Kà Ângnyang were killed in action, and only Pak managed to retreat to the Imjin River. When the lower Imjin River defenses collapsed, Pak withdrew to Pyongyang with Kim Myà Ângwà Ân to defend Taedong River and assumed the role of Auxiliary Defense Commander ().
Upon arrival, he was impeached by the Office of Inspector-General and other officials on charges of dereliction of duty and breach of military discipline, citing his failure to hold territory and unauthorized withdrawal. Nevertheless, in view of the wartime circumstances and his continuous presence on the battlefield during the retreat, he was ultimately not punished. This cycleâÂÂreceiving appointments only to be impeached and demoted to the rank of a common soldierâÂÂrepeated three times over the course of the war.
Following the fall of Pyongyang, Pak regrouped with Yi Il at Pyongsan to recruit troops. He was then summoned by Crown Prince Gwanghae, who was stationed in Icheon, and entered Songchon escorting him as Right Division Commander. Pak also served as Commander of the Volunteer Corps (), participating in various military operations around the Pyongyang area. After the recapture of Hansà Âng by Joseon forces in the first month of 1593, he continued to accompany Kim Myà Ângwà Ân to Paju. However, while returning home for medical treatment due to a relapse of a chronic illness, Pak died en route.
Pak Hong's tomb is located in Yesan County. His epitaph was composed by . He was posthumously promoted to Vice Minister () of War. Later, following the meritorious service of his eldest son, Pak Chinnam (), who was recommended for recognition as a Ch'Ã Ângnan Kongsin (), Pak Hong was further posthumously elevated to Minister of War and concurrently Deputy Director () of the State Tribunal.