Battle of Chilchonryang

Part of Imjin War

Date	27 August 1597
Location	Geoje, Chilcheollyang, South Korea
Result	Japanese victory

Belligerents

Fleet of Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Joseon Navy

Commanders and leaders

Todo Takatora
Katō Yoshiaki
Wakisaka Yasuharu
Konishi Yukinaga
Shimazu Yoshihiro
Kuki Yoshitaka

Won Gyun†
Choe Ho†
Yi Eok-gi†
Bae Seol

Strength

500-1000 total ships

169 total ships

Casualties and losses

minimal

157 ships lost

The naval Battle of Chilcheollyang took place before dawn on August 27, 1597 (the 15th day of the 7th lunar month 1597) during the Imjin War in Chilcheollyang, which is a narrow strait near Geoje island. It took place during the second invasion of the Japanese. This was the only naval victory for the Japanese during the War.

A Japanese double agent was dispatched by the Japanese commanders to bring false information to Admiral Yi and move him into a trap where he could be killed. For a time, the double agent brought what appeared to be important information to the Koreans.

At one point, the agent brought reports of Katō Kiyomasa planning to invade Korea to Gim Eung-seo, a commander of Gyeongsang province. The agent brought the exact place and time of the Japanese fleet's arrival; he then insisted that Yi intercept and destroy it. Gim sent the message to General Gwon Yul, who sent it to Seoul in March 1597. King Seonjo ordered Admiral Yi to attack but the latter refused, reportedly not trusting a lone letter delivered by an agent and feeling he was unable to prepare for battle in time. Yi may also have believed that there was a trap at Chilchonryang; the hazardous area contained sharp rocks.

For his refusal, King Seonjo ordered Admiral Yi to be court martialed and stand trial in Seoul. In addition, Won Gyun accused Yi of drinking and idling. He was spared the death sentence due to his combat record and prime minister Ryu Seong-ryong's support. The decision to remove him may have significantly affected further historical events.

Won Gyun replaced Admiral Yi as the naval commander of the entire Korean fleet. Won Gyun decided to attack a large Japanese flotilla of which he did not know the size, strength, or location.

He decided to look for the enemy navy with the entire Korean fleet that Admiral Yi had carefully built and strengthened. Won Gyun left Hansando on August 27, 1597, and soon met a very large enemy fleet near Pusan. Won Gyun was shocked to see the Japanese navy of a size of at least 500 to 1000 ships. Even though his troops were tired, Won Gyun ordered the attack. At the moment of the attack, a commander named Bae Seol quickly ran away with 12 ships under his command knowing the results of the battle ahead. Of note, it was these 12 ships that Admiral Yi would use to defeat the Japanese at Myeongnyang Straits upon his reinstatement. (Commander Bae Seol deserted with his single ship before that battle as well.) The Koreans advanced quickly with barely any strategy when the Japanese returned fire with arquebuses. The Japanese destroyed at least 30 Korean ships by rowing close to the Korean ships and jumping aboard to begin melee combat. The Koreans had no chance to fire with cannons.

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Wikipedia