Battle of Myeongnyang
1597 CE · Myeongnyang Strait, Korea
The Battle of Myeongnyang was fought in 1597 CE in Myeongnyang Strait, Korea between Joseon Korea vs Japan; decisive Korean victory; 13 Korean ships defeated a Japanese fleet of well over a hundred.
Battle of Myeongnyang: quick facts
- Date
- 1597 CE
- Location
- Myeongnyang Strait, Korea
- Belligerents
- Joseon Korea vs Japan
- Commanders
- Yi Sun-sin vs Tōdō Takatora and Katō Yoshiaki
- Result
- decisive Korean victory; 13 Korean ships defeated a Japanese fleet of well over a hundred.
- Era
- ⛩️ East Asia
- Quiz difficulty
- medium
What happened at the Battle of Myeongnyang?
In one of history's most remarkable naval victories, Admiral Yi Sun-sin faced a Japanese fleet of over 130 warships with only 13 ships of his own. By positioning his fleet in the narrow Myeongnyang Strait, where powerful currents neutralized the Japanese numerical advantage, Yi destroyed 31 Japanese ships without losing a single vessel. The victory is celebrated as one of the greatest military achievements in Korean history.
Did you know?
Admiral Yi Sun-sin's 13 ships at Myeongnyang destroyed 31 Japanese warships without losing a single vessel, a ratio of victory almost unmatched in the history of naval warfare.
Sources and further reading
- Battle of Myeongnyang on Wikipedia for the full account, historiography and primary sources.
- How BattleGuess compiles and checks battle facts: see the About page.
Entry last reviewed 26 September 2026.