Hey guys, I am writing this thread because I wanted to raise public awareness about quite interesting moment of warfare in North Eastern Asian History
I do know that those [I would put a curse word here] executives of SEGA decided not to make any Shogun 2 Total War Expansion that has to do with the Japanese Invasion of Korea (1592–1598). But even if they don't officially make an expansion pack, I know that someone will hopefully stand up to create a MOD of it.
Well, even if that doesn't happen in any near future, I still wanted to rant something about that war which is surprisingly little known outside Asia.
Yet, it was a war of great historical significance and importance. So, it wouldn't hurt to talk about it, would it?
Now, some people wondered why the war would still 'matter' to Koreans/Japanese.
Well, ordinary Japanese people are not so historically-conscious people and they don't really care about their history, unlike how Germans take heavy responsibilities.
But, at least I can explain the Korean point of view.
Called 'Imjin War' in Korea, the history of that war, even though it happened 420 years ago, heavily resides in Korean people's psyche. Well, why would the war that happened 420 years ago matter still to the Koreans? Its because Korea's modern history has been that of a continuous turmoil. 30 years of brutal and discriminatory Japanese imperial rule damaged Korean people's pride. Until the dawn of the 20th century, despite two millenia of struggle for existence, the Korean peninsular has never been conquered by any foreign powers, defiantly standing independent. (Though Koreans lost to Chinese few times and even had to pay heavy tributes/provide hostages in the 14th century)
But, Imperial Japan's occupation and rule of Korea / usage of the Korean peninsular as a forward supply base for the Japanese war effort in Chinese front, impaired Korean people's pride and identity. At the end of WWII, Korea was liberated, not by Koreans themselves, but by other foreign powers: USA and USSR. As a result, the country was divided, and it suffered a tremendous damage to its population/industry/identity through the horrendous conflict which is now called as The Korean War.
With North Korean war threat being ever present, the political structure of Korea broke down, and military dictatorship easily took control of the country, their leaders always scaring the people with "the North Korean threat", to justify their dictatorial/oppressive rule. Korea from 1950's to 1980's, was a very poor and unhappy country, where democracy/individual rights were suppressed, while economic/industrial development was the sole purpose of living for all citizens.
So, Koreans needed something to elevate their national pride, to remind themselves of their great heritage, and to forget about the shame of being occupied by Japan and the pain of living under a military dictatorship. (That occupation was a shock, because traditionally, Koreans have deemed Japan as an inferior, barbaric pirate neighbors) Thus, Koreans were heavily educated about the Koguryeo(Korea's powerful forerunner kingdom in 3rd century~6th century)'s expansionist legacy, and the Japanese Invasion of Korea (16th century), to rekindle some national pride.
Such a movement is indeed nationalistic and should be frowned upon on the wake of cosmopolitan 21st century, yet it did matter to the battered Koreans.
Now, the military dictatorship has long withered away by the popular revolution of 1987, and Korea is a fully functioning democratic republic with a bright economic prosperity and high-tech industry. (being the 13th largest economy in the world is not a small feat) But still, the Imjin War, as a result of long-time education and media popularization, remains one of the most popular/well-known historical period in Korea. Currently, the material is exploited by Korean entertainment industry as an exciting period of conflict and adventure.
One sentence summary: YES KOREANS ARE INTERESTED IN THE IMJIN WAR 1592~1598 AND WOULD LOVE TO PLAY A GAME ABOUT IT