The Mongol Invasion of Korea: A Brutal 30-Year War

This episode dives into the Mongol invasions of Korea (Goryeo) from 1231 to 1259—a relentless campaign of devastation and diplomacy that forced the Korean peninsula into the Mongol Empire. We trace the war from the first shock attacks by General Saritai, the long standoffs on Kanghwa Island, the tragic famine and destruction under Möngke Khan, and finally the surrender under King Wonjong. We discuss Goryeo's strategic use of mountain fortresses and naval defenses, the role of the Mongols' Korean vassals in the later invasions of Japan, and how the Goryeo dynasty survived as a client state while Korean culture and identity persisted through the Yuan period. Key figures include Choe U, who led resistance from Kanghwa, and Kim Yun-hu, a general who fell in battle. The episode also covers the 1270 Sambyeolcho Rebellion, a last stand by Goryeo military forces against Mongol domination. #MongolInvasions #Goryeo #Korea #Kanghwa #ChoeU #Sambyeolcho #Wonjong #MongkeKhan #Saritai #YuanDynasty #MedievalKorea #KoreanHistory #KhubilaiKhan #Jeju #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast #EastAsianHistory #GenghisKhan #Subutai Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo