Battles & Campaigns · 1592
Battle of Okpo
Okpo, South Korea
What happened
The Korean Joseon navy, led by Admiral Yi Sun-sin with Won Kyun, fought a Japanese transport fleet under Tōdō Takatora. Japan had invaded Korea in 1592. Yi Sun-sin's fleet entered Okpo harbour and found about 50 Japanese transport ships, most with no crews aboard. The Korean ships trapped them in the port and destroyed 26, with only one Korean wounded.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was the first naval battle of the Imjin War and Yi Sun-sin's first victory. Yi went on to attack Japanese supply ships.
What came next
Yi used his famous armoured 'turtle ships' soon after at the Battle of Sacheon, and later won at Hansan Island and Myeongnyang.
Did you know?
Japanese guns that worked well on land did little damage to the thick wooden hulls of the Korean warships.
Timeline
- 28 April 1545Yi Sun-sin is born.
- 16 June 1592Yi wins at Okpo.
- 13 August 1592Yi wins at Hansan Island.
- 16 December 1598Yi dies at the Battle of Noryang.