Juche

    So Hui (942-998) was an able diplomat and patriotic general in the Koryo Dynasty, well-known in the Korean history.

    After having passed the state examinations in 960, he obtained the different posts of government and had been to Song Dynasty as a diplomatic envoy in 972 and then took the post of royal emissary in 983.

    When the Kitan invaded Koryo in 993 with hundreds of thousands of huge army, he stationed in Sogyong (Pyongyang) as a central commanding general leading defense troops. When the battle became unfavorable in the first period, some cowardly feudal rulers suggested surrendering to the enemies or yielding the northern region of Sogyong to enemies. Even the king agitated. At that time, So Hui actively asserted the continuous resistance.

    Later, when the enemies that were overawed by the powerful military capabilities of Koryo and the spirit of resistance of the people had a severe blow at the Anyungjin (southwest of Anju) battle in the southern bank of River Chongchon, they dared not continue the military adventure but made efforts to attain their aggressive goal through negotiation.

    Being encouraged by the seething enthusiasm and the spirit of resistance of the army and the people in Koryo, So Hui had a negotiation with the enemy commander Xiao Su Ning. Saying “Our country is called Koryo as it is the country that succeeded to Koguryo. Even Dongjing (Liaoyang) you occupy is ours as regards the boundary”, So Hui rejected Xiao’s absurd proposal of “handing back” the old territory of Koguryo.

    So Hui led the focus of discussion of diplomatic relations with Kitan to the issue of old territory of Koguryo. He asserted that the land around the River Amnok belonged to ours but Kitan occupied it to block the way, so the diplomatic relations with Kitan was possible only when Koryo drove out the Jurchen race to recover the territory around the River Amnok.

    The enemies were put in the complete passive position in the negotiation, due to his initiative and skillful diplomatic activities. At last, the enemies could not counter the powerful resistance of the army and the people in Koryo and were driven into a corner, so they withdrew from Koryo.

    Later, he was promoted to a higher position. He led the army again in 994-997 to command the building of castles in different regions in the area south of the River Amnok, thus making contribution to the building up of the defence in the northwest region.

    Like this, So Hui is a patriotic famous general who displayed matchless courage with high patriotism in the battles defeating foreign aggressors and conducted prudent, fair and square diplomatic activities, thus making great contribution to the victory in the war.