Yi Sun-sin

Admiral Yi Sun-sin (April 28, 1545 - December 16, 1598) was a Korean admiral and military general known for his victories over the Japanese navy during the Joseon Dynasty's Imjin War. Admiral Yi fought in at least 23 recorded naval engagements, all of which were against the Japanese. He was outnumbered and lacked supplies in the majority of these battles. Despite this, he won battle after battle. His most famous victory was at the Battle of Myeongnyang, where, despite being outnumbered 333 (133 warships, at least 200 logistical support ships) to 13, he managed to disable or destroy 31 Japanese warships while losing only one of his own. Yi died of a gunshot wound at the Battle of Noryang on December 16, 1598, the final battle of the Imjin War.

Yi Sun-sin is widely regarded as one of history's greatest naval commanders, with commentators praising his strategic vision, intelligence, innovations, and personality. In Korea, Yi is regarded as a national hero, with numerous landmarks, awards, and towns named after him, as well as numerous films and documentaries based on his exploits. He is among the most important historical figures in Korea.

Some consider Yi to be a role model for both Koreans and Japanese. Some military historians, such as Joseph Cummins and George Alexander Ballard, rank Yi alongside Admiral Horatio Nelson as one of history's greatest naval commanders.

Birthdate: April 28, 1545
Birthplace: Inhyeon-dong, Jung-gu District, Seoul, South Korea
Died: December 16, 1598