Joseon Army

Joseon Army
Coat of arms of Joseon
Active	14th century to 1897
Disbanded	13 October 1897
Country	Korea
Allegiance	King of Joseon
Branch	Royal Guards Central Army Provincial armies and Militias
Type	Army
Role	Ground warfare
Size	84,500 (1592) 87,600 (1640s)
Insignia
Ensign

The Joseon Army (Korean: 조선군대; Hanja: 朝鮮軍隊) was the army of the Korean dynasty of Joseon (1392–1897). The army defended the northern borders but seldom defended the southern regions. The army was best known for fending off the Jurchen raids and conquering the Korean Peninsula. However, Joseon's neo-Confucianism disavowed military development, causing them to be vulnerable to Japanese and Manchu invasions. Despite this, Joseon kept strengthening the army until the 19th century, when western powers and the Japanese forced them to open doors and modernize the army.