Red Turban invasions of Goryeo

The Red Turban invasions of Goryeo occurred in the 14th century, when the Red Turban Rebellion spread (1351-1368) to the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392). The Red Turban rebels, originating in the Zhejiang area, were opposed to the Yuan Dynasty (1279–1368) on mainland China and the Mongolian plateau, to which Goryeo on the Korean Peninsula was a vassal state.

Background
Goryeo had been a dependency of the Mongol-founded Yuan Dynasty since the Mongol invasions of Goryeo (1231–1259). However, by the mid-14th century, King Gongmin began efforts to reform the Goryeo government and repulse the Mongolian influences. In those days, the Yuan was beginning to crumble, because of the rebellion of the Red Turbans.

First Red Turban invasion
In December 1359, part of the Red Turban army moved their base to the Liaodong Peninsula. However, they were experiencing a shortage of war materiels and lost their withdrawal route to Chinese mainland. The Red Turban army led by Mao Ju-jing invaded Goryeo Dynasty, and took the city of Pyongyang. In January 1360, the Goryeo army led by An U and Yi Bang-sil retook Pyongyang and the northern region which had been captured by the enemy. Of the Red Turban army that had crossed the Yalu River, only 300 troops returned to Liaoning after the war.

Second Red Turban invasion
In November 1360, the Red Turban troops invaded again Goryeo's northwest border with 200,000 troops and they occupied Gaegyeong, the capital of Goryeo, for a short period, King Gongmin escaped to Andong. However, General Choe Yeong, Yi Seonggye, Jeong Seun and Yi Bang-sil repulsed the Red Turban army. Sha Liu and Guan Xiansheng, who were generals of the Red Turbans, were killed in the battles. The Goryeo army continually chased their enemy and cleared them from the Korean Peninsula.

Aftermath
Although Goryeo had repulsed the Red Turbans, both the population and the economy had been severely damaged. The Wokou pirates had been troubling the southern peninsula for some time. General Choe Yeong and Yi Seong-gye were thus called upon by Gongmin to combat them, thereby giving the successful generals much influence and a power base in the country. General Yi Seong-gye, especially, identified himself with the Sinjin aristocracy.

In 1388, unwilling to lead the invasion of Liaodong and fight with the Ming Dynasty, General Yi Seong-gye decided to revolt against King U and Choe Yeong and swept back to the capital, Gaegyeong, to secure control of the government. In 1392, General Yi founded the Joseon Dynasty.