Yi Sun-sin

Who is Yi Sun-sin?

Yi Sun-sin was a Korean naval commander of the Joseon dynasty, celebrated for his undefeated record against the Japanese navy during the Imjin War (1592–1598). Serving as admiral of the Jeolla Left Naval District, he won a series of decisive victories that crippled Japanese supply lines and prevented invasion forces from advancing along the western coast. He is especially associated with the geobukseon, or turtle ship, an armored warship used effectively under his command. His most famous engagement was the Battle of Myeongnyang in 1597, where he reportedly repelled a vastly larger Japanese fleet with only around a dozen ships. Yi kept a detailed war diary, the Nanjung Ilgi, which survives as an important historical record. He was killed by a stray bullet at the Battle of Noryang in 1598, at the moment of a final Korean victory. He is honored today as one of Korea's greatest national heroes.

Sources: Nanjung Ilgi (난중일기, War Diary of Yi Sun-sin), 1592–1598 · Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty (조선왕조실록), Seonjo Sillok · UNESCO Memory of the World Register listing for Nanjung Ilgi, 2013