The main way the volunteer army evolved into a national movement was the development of accessible communication by army leaders and civilians (Haboush 26). The Uibyŏng represented a national belief in which national destiny was bound by the goals and actions of the local people. Unlike before, Koreans were united in resisting the Japanese invasions (Seth 156). The local elites introduced a new rhetoric of ethnic identity which encouraged civilians to pledge such loyalty to Choson. They fought tirelessly to protect their villages and families. They consisted of countryside civilians and peasants who voluntarily took up arms and waged guerilla warfare against the Japanese (Haboush 24). They were referred to as the Righteous Army (Uibyong) and were often led by local elites (yangban) of different provinces. A sense of panic and distrust in the government became the precedent of the rapidly spreading volunteer army movement that arose during the war. The survival of the Choson people were at stake as civilians were being killed and their homes were being destroyed. The Korean Royal Army was both unprepared and ineffective in resisting the aggressive Japanese forces that swept through their land.
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