Kam-ch'an's Victory in Goryeo-Khitan War

In 1018, General Kang Kam-ch’an led Goryeo forces to a decisive military campaign against the Khitan-led Liao Dynasty during the Third Goryeo–Khitan War, culminating in a major victory in 1019. This conflict represented the final and most intense phase of repeated invasions by the Khitan forces into the Korean Peninsula, as Goryeo sought to defend its sovereignty and secure its northern borders. The campaign began in 1018 when a large Khitan army, reportedly numbering around 100,000 troops, crossed the Yalu River and advanced into Goryeo territory. General Kang Kam-ch’an, then about 71 years old, organized defensive operations that relied on timing and terrain. At the Battle of Heunghwajin in 1018, he ordered the damming of a stream and released the water as the Khitan forces were crossing, disrupting their formation. This was followed by an ambush carried out by approximately 12,000 mounted Goryeo troops, resulting in significant losses for the invading army. After advancing south, the Khitan forces were unable to capture the Goryeo capital, Gaegyeong (modern-day Kaesong), and began retreating. In early 1019, Kang Kam-ch’an intercepted the withdrawing army at the Battle of Gwiju (near present-day Kusong). Goryeo forces defeated the Khitan troops in this engagement, with historical accounts stating that only a small fraction of the original invading force survived the campaign. The outcome of the war brought an end to large-scale military conflict between Goryeo and the Liao Dynasty. Following this campaign, relations between the two states shifted toward diplomatic engagement, and Goryeo maintained control over its territory without further major invasions from the Khitan. Why This Moment Matters The victory in 1019 concluded a series of Khitan invasions and helped establish a period of relative stability for Goryeo, allowing it to focus on internal development in the following century.