Choe Yeong - Final Years

Final Years

The Ming Dynasty in China had become powerful during the 14th century, and had driven back the Yuan to Mongolia and occupied Manchuria and parts of north-eastern Goryeo. In 1388, General Yi Seonggye was ordered to use his armies to push the Ming armies out of the Korean peninsula and invade Liaodong. However, Yi, knowing the support he enjoyed from both the high-ranking government officials and the general populace, he decided to return to the capital, Kaesŏng, and trigger a coup d'état. This incident later became famous as the Wihwado Retreat (위화도 회군), and became the first sign of the change of dynasty.

When Yi returned to the capital, Choi Young put up a gallant fight at the palace, but was overwhelmed by Yi's forces. Records differ as to what happened next, although it seems likely that after his defeat, Choi was banished to Goyang. He was later beheaded in the name of the government controlled by Yi Seonggye. Before the execution, he was famously known to have predicted that grass would never grow on his grave, due to his unjust demise. Interestingly, grass never did grow on his grave, and it was known as jeokbun (적분), which means red grave, because of the red soil. In 1979, the first sprouts of grass were found growing from General Choi's grave.