Battles of Ungchi and Ichi

The Japanese drive on Jeonju was stopped at the passes of Ungchi and Ichi. Holding Jeolla, the granary of the south, gave Joseon the means to fight on.

After taking Geumsan, Kobayakawa Takakage’s sixth division set out for Jeonju, seat of the Jeolla governor. On the 7th–8th of the seventh month, Jeong Dam of Gimje and Yi Bok-nam of Naju held the Ungchi pass from Jinan. Jeong was killed, but the Japanese were so badly mauled that they turned back within sight of Jeonju.

On the 8th Gwon Yul and Hwang Jin held the Ichi pass from Geumsan. After Hwang fell wounded, Gwon rallied the wavering troops and drove the enemy off. The Japanese never entered Jeolla, and Gwon Yul went on to his great victory at Haengju the next year.