By: Caitlin Ward

Across the Republic of Korea, there are countless opportunities to see and experience Korean history and culture. This article series will highlight interesting sites located near US military bases. In this first feature of local treasures, we are looking at Hyeonchungsa Shrine.

Located about an hour south of Osan Air Base and 40 minutes south of Camp Humphreys, Hyeonchungsa Shrine honors Admiral Yi Sun-sin (1545-1598) and several generations of his family. The shrine was built in 1706, 108 years after his death. The shrine was demolished in 1868 by an edict of Heungseon Daewongun (King Gojung’s father), which closed most of the private Confuscian academies and removed their tax exemption. 

In 1932, the shrine was rebuilt with the Korean people’s donations collected by the Korean newspaper Dong-A Ilbo. A treasure preservation committee was also formed at this time to protect the shrine during the Japanese occupation. Korea was liberated from Japanese rule in 1945 and since then, an annual ceremony celebrating Admiral Yi’s birthday has been performed on April 28. 

From 1966 to 1974, under the order of the late former president Park Chong-hee, the shrine grounds were expanded upon as a sacred place to commemorate Admiral Yi’s achievements. The site includes two fish ponds, 5km of walking trail, the house where the Admiral lived before he passed the state examination in 1576, an archery range where he practiced, a shrine, and a museum that was established in 2011 to exhibit, preserve, and research his relics and records. The museum features Sipkyeongdo (a pictorial history of Admiral Yi’s life), Nanjung Ilgi (his war diary), his Long Sword, and history from the 1700s about naval warfare and the infamous turtle ships.

The site also includes the cemetery of the family of Admiral Yi with the graves of his third-, fourth-, eighth-, and tenth-generation descendants. The Admiral’s grave is located approximately nine miles northwest of the Hyeonchungsa Shrine at the foot of Eorasan Mountain in Samgeori, Eumbong-myeon, Asan-si.

“If you are prepared to fight to the death, you will live. If you avoid battles to preserve your life, you will die.” -Nanjung Ilgi (War Diary of Admiral Yi Sun-sin)

Admiral Yi Sun-sin is regarded as one of Korea’s national heroes due in part to his naval victories that were instrumental in repelling Japanese invasions of Korea from 1592-1598 during the Joseon dynasty. He is credited with winning 23 naval battles without defeat. One of the most famous battles for its strategic brilliance was the Battle of Myeongnyang, which took place on October 26, 1597, where his 13 ships defeated a Japanese force of 333 ships. 

Admiral Yi Sun-sin

Admiral Yi (April 28, 1545-December 16, 1598) became a military officer in 1576 after passing the government examinations. He served at various Army and Navy posts and in 1591 was appointed commander of the Naval forces in Cholla province. As Commander, Admiral Yi focused on training his men, stocking equipment and supplies, and developing the kŏbuksŏn (“turtle ship”). The kŏbuksŏn is thought to have been the first ironclad battleship. 

“Its upper deck was covered with armored plates to protect its crew, and spikes and knives were attached to the plates to discourage enemies from boarding. The ship’s bow was equipped with a dragon head through which a cannon could be fired and clouds of smoke could be emitted to obscure the ship’s position. Cannon and guns could also be fired from the stern and the sides of the ship.” (Encyclopedia Britannica, inc.)

When Japanese forces invaded Korea in 1582, Admiral Yi’s forces were prepared to fight as a result of his training efforts. Admiral Yi achieved victory off the southern coast of Korea by cutting off Japanese troops from supplies and reinforcement, thereby preventing the enemy forces from acting upon their initial advantage. 

Early in his career, Admiral Yi was discharged following false accusations by jealous colleagues. Again in 1597, following peace negotiations, Admiral Yi was falsely accused of disloyalty and demoted from Commander of the entire Korean fleet to the rank of common soldier. 

Admiral Yi was reinstated as Commander of the Korean fleet after Japanese forces launched a second invasion and destroyed nearly all of the Korean Navy. Admiral Yi regained Korea’s control of the seas, however, he was killed by a stray bullet while pursuing the retreating Japanese forces.

Additional information about Admiral Yi’s life and accomplishments is available in Seoul at Gwanghwamun Square where a statue of him was installed on the 465th anniversary of his birth, as well as in the basement of Sejong Center where an exhibit focuses on twelve themes related to Admiral Yi’s life. An additional attraction at the museum is a turtle warship reduced in size that guests can board.

References

Destinations by region. Destinations by Region : VisitKorea Destinations by Region The Story of Admiral Yi Sunshin (충무공 이야기) | Official Korea Tourism Organization. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2022, from https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=2392391 

Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Yi Sun-shin. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved March 26, 2022, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Yi-Sun-shin 

Summers, M. (2008, November 23). Local historic site: Hyeonchungsa Shrine. Osan Air Base. Retrieved March 26, 2022, from https://www.osan.af.mil/News/Article/406874/local-historic-site-hyeonchungsa-shrine/