Battle of Noryang
Noryang Strait, off Namhae Island, South Gyeongsang, South Korea
What happened
The Korean navy under Admiral Yi Sun-sin and the Chinese Ming navy under Chen Lin fought a Japanese fleet under Shimazu Yoshihiro. By late 1598, Japan was withdrawing its armies from Korea. The Korean and Chinese fleets blocked the Noryang Strait to stop a Japanese fleet from rescuing another Japanese army. In a battle that began in the middle of the night, the Japanese fleet was badly damaged, and Yi Sun-sin fell to a stray bullet near the end.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was the last major battle of the Imjin War, the seven-year Japanese invasion of Korea. Yi Sun-sin, said never to have lost a naval battle in the war, became Korea's greatest national hero.
What came next
Japanese forces left Korea. Today Yi Sun-sin's statue stands in central Seoul, and he appears on South Korea's 100-won coin.
Did you know?
Yi Sun-sin asked that his death be kept secret, and his nephew put on his armour and kept beating the war drums so the crews would keep fighting.
Timeline
- 1592Japan invades Korea.
- 1592Yi Sun-sin wins at Hansan Island.
- 1597Yi wins at Myeongnyang.
- 16 December 1598The allies win at Noryang; Yi Sun-sin falls.