Monument for the Naval Victories of Yi Sun-sin, Yeosu

This is the largest monument in Korea commemorating the achievements of Yi Sun-sin, erected in honour of his naval victories. Together with the Myeongnyang Naval Victory Monument in Haenam, South Jeolla Province, it was removed to Seoul in 1942 under persecution during the Japanese colonial period and its whereabouts became unknown; after liberation, it was located, through inquiries made by dignitaries of the Haenam region, buried in the ground in front of Geunjeongjeon Hall at Gyeongbokgung Palace, and was re-erected at its present site. The monument consists of a single stone base on which a tortoise-shaped pedestal is placed, above which stands the body of the stele, topped with a capstone carved with clouds, dragons and lotus flowers. The text of the inscription was composed by Yi Hang-bok, renowned in his day, and written in calligraphy by the noted calligrapher Kim Hyeon-seong, while the title inscribed on the upper face of the stele body, "Tongje-igong Sugundaechpobi" (統制李公水軍大捷碑), is in the hand of Kim Sang-yong. The monument was erected in the seventh year of King Gwanghaegun of Joseon (1615), and to its left is a record composed in the 24th year of King Sukjong (1698) by Nam Gu-man concerning its erection. This record sets out the circumstances of its erection, through the efforts of Naval Commander Yu Hyeong, who had served as an aide to Yi Sun-sin, together with local dignitaries and descendants of the Left Naval Base region, and also notes that, at the same time, the Tarubi Stele of Yeosu was moved and re-erected beside the great victory monument, and a stele pavilion was built to preserve them both.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yeosu, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Treasure · 보물