Exclusive: Yi Sun-sin's Tactical Rebuke to Won Gyun Found in Historical Records
The Chosun Ilbo · Yoo Sok-jae ·
Exclusive: Yi Sun-sins Tactical Rebuke to Won Gyun Found in Historical Records 16th-century *Byeolgi* analysis reveals Admirals strategic advice before 1592 Battle of Hansan
“Listen to me first!”
These were the words Admiral Yi Sun-sin reportedly used to admonish General Won Gyun shortly before the Battle of Hansan in August 1592 (the 25th year of King Seonjo’s reign). The statement preceded a rebuke implying, “Do you not understand tactics?” After the outbreak of the Imjin War, Won Gyun, the commander of the Gyeongsang Right Naval Headquarters, had lost a significant portion of his fleet and joined forces with Yi, the commander of the Jeolla Left Naval Headquarters, to participate in the naval battle at Hansando. However, Yi, who had already secured victories at Okpo and Sacheon, did not hold Won in high regard.
Roh Seung-seok, an East Asian classics scholar and academic committee chairman at Dongguk University’s Yeoae Research Institute, analyzed the cursive script in the *Jeongyu Year Datong Calendar (丁酉年大統曆) Byeolgi* (hereafter *Byeolgi*), recorded by Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong, and disclosed the findings to this newspaper on the 5th. The *Byeolgi* contains notes Ryu made on a type of calendar called the Datong Calendar after July 13, 1597, and is regarded as the draft of *Jingbirok*.
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