Battle of Myeongnyang
Myeongnyang Strait, near Jindo Island, South Korea
What happened
Admiral Yi Sun-sin of Korea's Joseon kingdom, with just 13 warships, fought a much larger Japanese fleet whose commanders included Tōdō Takatora and Kurushima Michifusa. During the Japanese invasion of Korea, most of the Korean navy had been destroyed, and Japan's fleet aimed to sail into the Yellow Sea. Admiral Yi chose to fight in the narrow Myeongnyang Strait, where strong currents made it hard for the Japanese ships to move. When the tide turned, the Japanese ships drifted into each other, and Yi's fleet sank or damaged about 31 of them.
Why it matters
Why it matters: The victory stopped the Japanese advance into the Yellow Sea and gave Korea time to rebuild its navy. It is one of the most celebrated victories in Korean history.
What came next
Yi Sun-sin died at the Battle of Noryang in 1598, one of the war's last battles. His war diary is part of UNESCO's Memory of the World.
Did you know?
When the king suggested giving up the navy, Yi wrote back: 'Your majesty, this vassal still has twelve battleships.'
Timeline
- 1592Japan invades Korea, beginning the Imjin War.
- 1597The Korean navy is largely destroyed at Chilcheollyang.
- 26 October 1597Yi Sun-sin defeats the Japanese fleet at Myeongnyang.
- 1598Yi Sun-sin dies at the Battle of Noryang.