조선전기 최고위 국방 전문가 이극균의 생애와 활동 (Yi Geuk-gyun’s Life and Activities as the Highest Ranked Defense Specialist in Early Joseon)

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 역사실학회
· 수록지 정보 : 역사와 실학 / 57호 / 39 ~ 82페이지
· 저자명 : 김순남

초록

이극균은 광주 사람으로 1437년(세종19)에 태어나 1456년(세조2)에 20세로 문과에 급제했다. 이후 거의 50년 가까이를 조선의 관료로 살아가다가1504년(연산10) 67세로 생을 마감했다.
이극균은 문무를 겸하여 세조로부터 장수를 맡을 만한 자로 평가받았다. 이극균은 함길도 도절제사의 도사, 강원 함길도 도체찰사의 종사관, 평안도도체찰사의 비장, 만포 절제사, 평안도와 영안도의 감사와 병사 등을 역임했다. 또한 지변사재상으로 활약하면서 서북면 도원수, 경변사가 되어 북방 대책을 수립하고 실천했다. 이극균은 근 70년 인생 중 40년 가까이를 외직으로 돌았다. 그 과정에서 실제의 현장에서 구현되어야 할 국방 대책의 방향과 내용을 구체적으로 파악했다. 특히 북방 2도에 특화되어 있었던 이극균의 이러한 경험은 조선의 국방에 절대적인 도움이 되었다. 이 시기 국방 대책은 이처럼 실제의 현장으로 관료를 직접 파견하여 그곳에서 얻은 정보와 경험을 바탕으로 수립되었던 능동성을 내포하고 있었다.

영어초록

Born in 1437 (19th year of King Sejong) in Gwangju, Yi Geuk-gyun passed the national civil service examination in 1456(2nd year of King Sejo) at the age of 20. Thereafter, he served the king of Joseon as a government official for almost 50 years before passing away in 1504 (10th year of the Yeonsangun) at the age of 67.
Skilled at both literary and martial arts, Yi Geuk-gyun was evaluated by King Sejo as having the skills to be a capable general. During the reign of King Sejo, Yi was appointed to local positions such as Inspector (dosa) for the Deputy Commander(dojeoljesa )of Hamgil-do, Lieutenant(jongsagwan) for the Supreme Commander of Gangwon Hamgil-do, Commandant(bijang) for the Supreme Commander(dochechalsa) of Pyeongan-do, and Commander(jeoljesa) of Manpo. In addition, he was also actively involved in the establishment of military strategy in his capacity as a high ranking strategist(jibyeonsajaesang) while serving as governor(gamsa) and military commander(byeongsa) of Pyeongan-do and Yeongan-do during the reign of King Seongjong. Because of his career paths, Yi was appointed as Commander-in-Chief(dowonsu) of the Seobukmyeon region and emerged victorious at the Battle of Gosan-ri during the late reign of King Seongjong. In his capacity as a special envoy dispatched to resolve military issues(gyeongbyeonsa), Yi established and implemented a military plan for the defense of the northern region. He also proved himself to be one of the architects of Joseon’s future military system by encouraging capable civil officials to cultivate military strategists.
Yi Geuk-gyun served in various local positions for some 40 years. During this process, he came to understand the directions and details of the implementation of national defense policy at the local level. Yi’s experiences in the two northern provinces played a definite role in helping to establish the national defense of Joseon. The defense strategy established during this period was of a proactive nature in that it was based on information and experiences gleaned from the direct dispatch of officials to actual sites.

참고자료

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