For this week’s cultural post, I will write about Yi sun-sin. Yi Sun-Sin, 이순신 in Korean, was a Korean military general that is still talked about to this day. I’ve first discovered him while playing a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena called Mobile Legends. In the game, he is animated into a hero that uses a bow and arrow and sometimes rides a turtle boat. After further reading out him, I realize Mobile Legends does not come close to depicting the hero Yi Sun-sin truly was.
From an early age, Yi Sun-Sin always wanted to become a soldier for the Korean army. When it came time for his first military entrance exam, he impressed the judges with his archery skills but failed to qualify after he broke his leg during the horse riding exam. Yet, after fours passed, we would pass and start his military career.
Throughout his career, Yi was discharged twice after being falsely accused by his jealous military colleagues. During Yi’s time, Japan invaded Korea after a series of long civil wars that had finally ceased after Toyotomi Hideyoshi unified and led the Japanese army. In contrast, Korea had not been at war for hundreds of years. So when rumors of Japan wanting to raid Korea broke out, Many Koreans believed that the Japanese were only bluffing, but Ryu Seong-ryong recognized the threat and moved Yi to naval service to defend the southern part of Korea. Yi rigorously trained his soldiers and commissioned a new ship design called the Turtle Ship. When the Japanese attacked, they completely crushed the Korean army and quickly advanced to Seoul. However, Yi quickly realizing the severity of the situation, organized his small fleet of warships, and launched attacks against the Japanese and caught them off-guard. Yi not only destroyed 43 enemy ships, but he did not lose a single ship of his own and was promoted to become the new Southern Commander of the Korean navy.
Yi’s most well-known battle is the Battle of Myeongnang. Yi knowing the Japanese were stationed at Myeongnang Strait, took his fleet of only 13 ships and sailed directly to them. The reported number of Japanese ships was 133 but Yi hoped his knowledge of the natural current patterns of Myeongnang would help his fleet get an advantage. His plan worked: the reversing tide caught the Japanese by surprise and flung their ships against each other right as destroyed more than 30 Japanese warships. With 13 ships versus 133, he once again drove back Japan with zero losses to his own navy.
It was joyful learning about a Korean historical figure. Since immigrating to America, I have only learned history in an American classroom. I never have realized that the people I’m learning about in class never looked like me. Thus, it was really cool to read about a Korean navy general that shows the qualities I look up to: Resilience and Integrity. I am definitely looking forward to learning about other Korean historical figures to widen my knowledge of my culture!
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