일본군이 조선에서 철수한 후에도 명군의 조선 주둔은 계속되었다. 명군은 1600년 9월까지 조선에 머물러 있으면서 명과 조선을 오가는 큰 논쟁을 불러일으켰다. 이 글에서는 이 분쟁의 원인을 명군이 일본군과 비밀리에 행한 철수교섭으로 보고자 한다. 1598년 11월 일본군이 철수한 이후 명조정의 지배적인 여론은 비용절감, 철군, 그리고 조선의 자강이었다. 일본과의 관계는 사실상 조선에 일임했다. 그러나 전제국가였던 명에서 신종황제가 유병과 철병에 대한 확실한 결정을 내려주지 않는 한, 명조정과 명군, 조선을 오가는 지루한 논의가 반복될 뿐이었다. 결국 조선이 철수를 바라고 있다는 주둔명군의 ‘절실한 호소’를 들은 신종이 철수를 결정함으로써, 명군은 조선을 떠났다. 명조정의 철수기조에도 명군이 스스로 철수요청을 하지 않고 이를 미루고 있었던 것은 비밀리에 행한 일본군과의 철병교섭 때문이었다. 강화와 관련한 문제가 불거질 때마다 조선은 명조정에 直告라는 강경한 태도를 취했고, 명군은 위험부담을 안은 채로 철수할 수 없었다. 따라서 명군은 조선을 옭죄기 위해 과다 유병을 강요하는 동시에, 주둔기간을 늘리기 위해 명조정의 허락을 받아냈다. 그러나 걱정거리였던 인질들이 모두 귀환하는 한편, 식량문제와 명조정의 비판 등으로 조선에 더 이상 머물기 힘든 상황이 오자, 명군은 철수명분을 만들어낸 후 신종의 허락을 받아내어 철수해버렸다. 철수책임은 조선에 전가되었다. 조선은 명군의 주둔을 필요로 했다. 하지만 그 형태는 당시 주둔하고 있던 명군의 모습과는 다른 것이었다. 조선은 감당할 만한 수의 유병과 지휘관을 원하였고, 그것은 독자적 외교노선을 손상시키지 않는 것이어야 했다. 조선은 명군과 일본의 철수교섭에 의한 강화노선에 줄곧 반대의사를 표하였으며, 명조정에 교섭의 전말을 알리려 했다. 그러나 명군의 간섭에서 벗어나려 하면서도 그들의 주둔을 필요로 하고 있었던 조선은 매번 논쟁의 끝에서 수세에 몰렸다. 군량상황이 악화되어가면서 조선의 발언권은 더 약해졌다. 조선의 바람대로 두 가지 모두를 얻는다는 것은 불가능했다. 명군의 철수가 현실화되어가자, 선조는 서울의 안보를 크게 걱정하며 소수의 주둔이라도 요청하려했다. 그가 말한 서울의 방비란 곧 자신의 안위였다. 이덕형은 선조와 달리 전국적이고 장기적으로 전후대책을 구상했고 이를 현실화하려 했다. 명군철수를 인정하면서도 현실적인 후속대책을 내놓지 못하던 여타의 신료들과 다른 모습이었다. 선조로부터 전후처리의 전권을 받은 것과 다름없었던 그는 산재한 명군 잔류병들을 목격했고 이들을 이용했다. 그의 기지로 인해 조선은 대일강화의 첫걸음을 뗄 수 있었던 것이다.

Even after the retreat of Japanese forces from Joseon after the Imjin waeran (壬辰倭亂), Ming troops continued to be stationed in Joseon. Ming forces stayed in Joseon until the ninth month of 1600 and started a large debate between Ming and Joseon. This article examines the causes of this strife and the secret negotiations over retreat held between the Ming forces and the Japanese forces. The Ming forces negotiated for the withdrawal of the Japanese forces through the exchange of hostages but these negotiations were hidden from the Koreans as well as the Ming government (明朝廷). After the retreat of Japanese forces in the eleventh month of 1598, the viewpoint of the Ming imperial court focused on the reduction of expenditures, the withdrawal of military forces, and the self-strengthening of Joseon. Since the Wanli emperor (萬曆帝, 1563-1620) did not make a definite decision regarding the troops, there was continuous back-and-forth debate between the Ming imperial court, the Ming forces, and Joseon. Finally, the Wanli emperor accepted the “fervent petition" of the Ming forces that Joseon desired the withdrawal of Ming forces and the Ming army departed. The Ming government considered the withdrawal of Japanese forces to be the end of the war. Due to the long duration of the war as well as internal rebellion, the Ming Dynasty faced exhaustion. The Ming government wanted to bring back the Ming forces from Joseon as quickly as possible. However, Joseon Korea was worried that the withdrawal negotiations might cause problems. The Ming forces delayed Joseon by shifting responsibility for the large number of forces and rations to Joseon, although Joseon tried to complain about the “negotiations" to the Ming government. Joseon Korea was incapable of supplying such a large force and it also objected to the withdrawal negotiations that the Ming forces were carrying out with the Japanese. However, the Joseon military was too weak and Joseon needed the Ming troops. This was the dilemma faced by Joseon, of which the Ming forces were well aware and willing to exploit. As the retreat of the Ming forces was becoming realized, King Seonjo (宣祖, 1552-1608) was greatly worried about the security of Seoul and requested that a small number of Ming troops be stationed there. He was concerned about the defense of Seoul as well as his own safety. Unlike Seonjo, Lee Deok-hyeong (李德馨, 1561-1613) was thinking about the entire country and the long-term, which led him to formulate and implement a forward-looking policy. He was different from the officials who desired the withdrawal of Ming forces but could not decide on the next policy step. Essentially assuming the power to address the situation from Seonjo, Lee utilized the scattered, remaining Ming troops. Using his wit, Joseon was able to take its first steps toward establishing peace with Japan.

Even after the retreat of Japanese forces from Joseon after the Imjin waeran (壬辰倭亂), Ming troops continued to be stationed in Joseon. Ming forces stayed in Joseon until the ninth month of 1600 and started a large debate between Ming and Joseon. This article examines the causes of this strife and the secret negotiations over retreat held between the Ming forces and the Japanese forces. The Ming forces negotiated for the withdrawal of the Japanese forces through the exchange of hostages but these negotiations were hidden from the Koreans as well as the Ming government (明朝廷). After the retreat of Japanese forces in the eleventh month of 1598, the viewpoint of the Ming imperial court focused on the reduction of expenditures, the withdrawal of military forces, and the self-strengthening of Joseon. Since the Wanli emperor (萬曆帝, 1563-1620) did not make a definite decision regarding the troops, there was continuous back-and-forth debate between the Ming imperial court, the Ming forces, and Joseon. Finally, the Wanli emperor accepted the “fervent petition" of the Ming forces that Joseon desired the withdrawal of Ming forces and the Ming army departed. The Ming government considered the withdrawal of Japanese forces to be the end of the war. Due to the long duration of the war as well as internal rebellion, the Ming Dynasty faced exhaustion. The Ming government wanted to bring back the Ming forces from Joseon as quickly as possible. However, Joseon Korea was worried that the withdrawal negotiations might cause problems. The Ming forces delayed Joseon by shifting responsibility for the large number of forces and rations to Joseon, although Joseon tried to complain about the “negotiations" to the Ming government. Joseon Korea was incapable of supplying such a large force and it also objected to the withdrawal negotiations that the Ming forces were carrying out with the Japanese. However, the Joseon military was too weak and Joseon needed the Ming troops. This was the dilemma faced by Joseon, of which the Ming forces were well aware and willing to exploit. As the retreat of the Ming forces was becoming realized, King Seonjo (宣祖, 1552-1608) was greatly worried about the security of Seoul and requested that a small number of Ming troops be stationed there. He was concerned about the defense of Seoul as well as his own safety. Unlike Seonjo, Lee Deok-hyeong (李德馨, 1561-1613) was thinking about the entire country and the long-term, which led him to formulate and implement a forward-looking policy. He was different from the officials who desired the withdrawal of Ming forces but could not decide on the next policy step. Essentially assuming the power to address the situation from Seonjo, Lee utilized the scattered, remaining Ming troops. Using his wit, Joseon was able to take its first steps toward establishing peace with Japan.

Imjin waeran, Imjin War, Hideyoshi's invasion, Ming troops, Peace negotiations