England's Horatio Nelson vs. Korea's Yi, Sun-sin

In London, the capital of the United Kingdom, there is Trafalgar Square. At the center of the square, there is the status of Horatio Nelson (1771-1805), a legendary Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom. He defeated the Allied Navy at Trafalgar off the coast of Spain when Napoleon’s French navy joined forces with the Spanish Armada to attack the England in the 19th century. This is the battle of Trafalgar, one of the greatest naval battles in the world’s history.

Unfortunately, the admiral died during this battle, just as his fleet was completing the victory. After the battle, the England expanded the British Empire by dominating the sea and controlling trading blocs in Europe.

There is a Korean navy admiral who is comparable to Lord Nelson. He is Admiral Yi Sun-sin (1545-1598). During the Imjin War in 1592, he led all the naval battles to victory. He also led the Battle of Hansando Island, one of the greatest naval battles in the world’s history. Before the Imjin War started, he was fully prepared for the war, because he anticipated it would come. One of his greatest achievements is an invention of Geobukseon (Turtle ship), a war ship that resembles a turtle shell with an armored cover on top.

During the Battle of Hansando Island, Admiral Yi Sun-sin commanded and developed a famous tactic, Hakikjin, a crane wing formation with ships forming a semi circle in which enemies were trapped. This way he was able to defeat the enemies quickly and decisively. The secret of the firepower was only discovered in the 20th century and surprised many scholars in related fields.

After his victory in the Battle of Hansando Island, he led the navy of Joseon (a Korean sovereign state that existed 1392-1897). He also took part in the Battle of Noryang, which closed the Imjin War. But like Nelson, he was deeply wounded during the Battle of Noryang, and he did not want his death known until the battle ended in victory. He kept a record of stories during this period in his diary, Nanjungilgi. Later his diary was made into a book and it has been read by more than a majority of Koreans.

Like Lord Nelson, his statue stands at Gwanghwamoon Square, in the center of Seoul, which is the capital of Republic of Korea.