HistoryData
war1920

Battle between Korean militias and Japanese forces

June 7, 1920

The Battle of Fengwudong was one of the first notable victories of Korean independence forces over the Japanese regular army in Manchuria.

Quick Facts

Year
1920
Category
war

Key Facts

Date
6–7 June 1920
Japanese soldiers killed
157 regular soldiers (plus 120 in initial action)
Japanese soldiers wounded
approximately 200
Location
Bongo-dong Valley, Manchuria
Korean commanders
Hong Beom-do and Choi Jin-dong

By the Numbers

6
Date
157
Japanese soldiers killed
200
Japanese soldiers wounded

Location

Fengwudong (Bongo-dong), China (Manchuria)

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

Korean independence militias operating in Manchuria sought to strike Japanese military presence along the border. The engagement was triggered when forces led by Hong Beom-do and Choi Jin-dong attacked and destroyed a Japanese military police border post, deliberately drawing Japanese soldiers into pursuit.

Event

The Korean independence armies lured Japanese regular troops into the Bongo-dong Valley, where combined forces lay in ambush. When Japanese soldiers entered the encirclement, the independence army opened fire simultaneously, killing 157 Japanese regulars and wounding approximately 200 others in a coordinated valley ambush.

Consequence

The battle resulted in an overwhelming Korean victory attributed to high morale, strong command foresight, and careful operational planning. It became one of the earliest and most significant battlefield successes for the Korean independence movement against Japanese regular forces in Manchuria.

Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis

Side A

1 belligerent

Korean Independence Militias
Key Commanders

Hong Beom-do, Choi Jin-dong.

Side B

1 belligerent

Japanese Imperial Army
Estimated Casualties357
Total Casualties (all sides)
357
Outcome
Korean independence militia victory; 157 Japanese soldiers killed and approximately 200 wounded

Timeline Context

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