Siege of Dongrae The Siege of Dongrae , was one of the first battles of the Imjin War ( 1592 – 1597 ) . Background . After the fall of Busan , the Japanese army had to secure their bridgehead , because few miles to the north of Busan lay the fortress of Dongrae , a certain type of castle that was situated within a very strong position atop a hill , that dominates the main road north towards Hanseong . The march and the Siege of Dongrae . After resting overnight at Busan , the First Division left at 6 : 00 AM the following morning , marched around the bay without delay , and began the attack on Dongrae two hours later . Its prefect , Song Sang - hyeon , hurriedly gathered all the town - people and what soldiers he could find such as Jo Yeong Gyu , the magistrate of Yangsan . As soon as the Japanese completed the investment of the fortress surrounding it in five lines , with other troops crowding on the nearby fields and prepared to storm the fortress . The brave prefect took up his position in the upper story of the great gate of the fortress where , in accordance with the Korean custom , he beat upon a great drum and urged on his soldiers in the fight . Like he had done previously at Pusan , Konishi Yukinaga presented the Japanese demands erected a certain message saying , " " Fight if you want to , or let us pass " " , for a clear road through to China . It was again rejected by the brave prefect with the words , " " it is easy for me to die , but difficult to let you pass ” " . Konishi Yukinaga then followed in personally leading the attack against Dongrae during the 15th day of fourth month , in which he ordered for the commander to be captured alive . The Battle . After Busan , for a second time the ramparts of a Korean castle were swept with bullets . Even though the men that Song Sang - hyeon wielded were rather ill - equipped and poorly trained , the gallant defenders fought for eight hours before the enemy effected an entrance over their dead bodies . An assault was made and at least 3000 of the defenders were slaughtered , but only after a fight lasting twelve hours . The Fall . When Yi Gak , the cautious , and Gen . Bak Hong who was with him , heard the fall of Dongrae , they took their heels and consequently their force did likewise . After the fall of Dongrae many peoples were killed , which implies a massacre similar to that which happened at Pusan . Aftermath . With the fall of Dongrae the Japanese bridgehead was secured and the road to the north was open . Busan and Dongrae fortress were quickly garrisoned , and the harbour of Busan began to provide a safe and almost unchallenged landing stage to disembark more than 100000 Japanese soldiers with their equipment , horses and supplies over the next month . Legend . The Japanese general in command was so impressed with the bravery of this prefect that he had his body decently buried and erected over his grave a wooden monument on which he wrote " “ A Loyal Subject ” " , an epitaph than which none could be more grateful to a true Korean gentleman . The cool defiance of Song Sang - hyeon has become a legend in Korea , and in the Chungnyolsa shrine at the foot of the castle hill in Dongrae , where he is honoured beside Chong Pal and Yun Heung - sin , there is a dramatic painting of him sitting impassively in his chair as the fierce Japanese approach .