When people talk about popular Korean figures, most people think of the BTS members or Bong Joon-ho or even Yoo Jae-suk. But very few non-Korean people will know about Korea’s greatest military mind. 이순신 (Yi sun-sin), or Admiral Yi, was arguably the greatest military mind that the Korean peninsula had ever seen. He lived during the Joseon dynasty and his naval campaigns mostly took place during the 임진왜란 (Imjin War) where he saw significant victories against the Japanese despite being out-resourced and outnumbered.
His most famous victory came in the 명량대첩 (Battle of Myeongnyang) where he was outnumbered 13 ships to the Japanese 333. Giving up the Myeongnyang strait to the Japanese would’ve meant that the Japanese empire would have free access to supply resources directly into Joseon for a mainland invasion. Nevertheless, Admiral Yi was able to use the natural environment of the Myeongnyang Strait to his advantage to turn the Japanese fleet around and turn the tide in their favor. In the battle, he lost 0 ships while the Japanese lost 31. This battle is still considered one of the greatest naval achievements in history. In fact, there was a movie made from it, 명량, which at the time of its release was the highest grossing Korean film of all time. Around a fifth of Korea’s population had also viewed the film.
During his campaign, he created a seven year record of all the battles and strategies inside the 난중일기 (Nanjung Journal) which is now listed as a part of UNESCO’s memory of the world. He also has several memorials, monuments, awards, and towns named after him. What helped him the most in his battles however was his innovative mind not only in using the battlefield to his advantage, but also in creation:
The 거북선 (turtle ship) was a large playmaker in the success of Yi Sun-sin’s campaign. The turtle ship was an early version of the ironclad with iron spikes and plates, resembling the shell of a turtle. This design not only provided protection from enemy attacks but also made the ship difficult to board. It also made it very strong for ramming against the enemy ships. Although not official, the turtle ship can be viewed as a Korean national treasure as it is displayed in various museums. A full complete replica is still yet to be built however as its design is still up to debate and being studied constantly.
Comments
I still remember watching the movie 명량 when I was in Korea. The movie itself was very good and it is a great way to introduce Yi Sun-sin to people who do not know well of him. I think he is one of the greatest and most well-known figures in Korea, but I hope more people around the world will get to know more about Korea's history and the important figures who made crucial achievements.