Admiral Yi Sun-sin: The Imjin War at Sea

During the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592, the naval base at Yeosu was the headquarters of Admiral Yi Sun-sin. The base burned down in 1597. The great hall that stands on its site today, Jinnamgwan, was commissioned by Naval Commander Yi Si-eon and completed in 1599, after the war; its wooden roof is supported by 68 columns. It is the place to begin, at the fleet's home port before the sea battles start.

場所の精度: The original base is gone; the pin marks Jinnamgwan Hall, built on its former site.

訪問のヒント: Jinnamgwan Hall is in Yeosu's city centre.

The Battle of Okpo was the first naval battle of the Imjin War. Entering the harbour on Geoje island, Yi's fleet found more than 50 Japanese transport ships, mostly unmanned, while their crews were looting the village. In the bombardment that followed, 26 Japanese transports were destroyed, a first success for the Korean fleet.

場所の精度: The pin marks the Okpo area on Geoje island; the exact anchorage is not specified.

On 15 August 1592 the Japanese fleet was drawn into open waters off Hansan Island. There the Korean fleet assumed a U-shaped crane formation, with large warships, including two turtle ships, in the centre and lighter ships on its wings. Fourteen Japanese ships that had not engaged in combat escaped; the rest were destroyed.

場所の精度: The fight was in the open waters off the island; the pin marks Hansando itself.

In October 1597 Yi had only 13 ships left after Admiral Wŏn Kyun's disastrous defeat at Chilcheollyang, and the Japanese fleet outnumbered his by at least ten to one. He fought in this strait, whose very strong currents ran at about 10 knots, first one way and then the other, in three-hour intervals. In total 31 Japanese warships were sunk or crippled. The strait is also called Uldolmok, 'screaming sea', and a memorial to Yi Sun-sin stands on the coast.

訪問のヒント: A memorial to Yi Sun-sin stands on the coast of the strait.

Noryang was the last major battle of the Japanese invasions of Korea, in December 1598. The allied Joseon and Ming fleet waited for the Japanese commander Shimazu at the west end of the Noryang Strait. At the height of the battle Yi was hit by an arquebus bullet and died shortly after. His words were: "We are about to win the war – keep beating the war drums. Do not announce my death." His nephew Wan wore his uncle's armour and continued to beat the war drum.

場所の精度: The battle ranged along the whole strait; the pin marks the Noryang area on the Namhae side.