Yi Sunshin

PD Image
Portrait of Admiral Yi, drawn in 1952.

Yi Sunshin (이순신:李舜臣, April 28, 1545 – December 16, 1598) was a Korean admiral renowned for his naval victories against the invading Japanese during the Korean War of 1592-1598.

Family & early life

Yi Sunshin was born on April 28, 1545 in the Geoncheon-dong area of Seoul. Yi was the third of the four sons begot by Yi Jeong and Chogyae Byeonssi (Korean women keep their last name upon marriage). Despite their aristocratic yangban lineage, the family lived a modest life, since Yi's father opted to avoid the promising path of a Joseon Dynasty scholar official. Yi's grandfather Yi Baek-rok lost

A survey conducted by Soonchunhyang University in 2005 indicated that Koreans generally regard Yi Sunshin to be the greatest figure in Korean history.