View source for Battle of Chilcheollyang

{{Short description|Naval battle in the Imjin War}}
{{Expand Korean|topic=mil|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict          = Battle of Chilchonryang
| partof            = [[Imjin War]]
| date              = 28 August 1597{{sfn|Hawley|2014|pp=488—491}}
| place             = [[Geoje]], Chilcheollyang, [[South Korea]]
| result            = Japanese victory
| combatant1        = Fleet of [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]]
| combatant2        = [[Joseon]]
| commander1        = [[Todo Takatora]]<br/>[[Katō Yoshiaki]]<br/>[[Wakisaka Yasuharu]]<br/>[[Konishi Yukinaga]]<br/>[[Shimazu Yoshihiro]]<br/ >[[Kuki Yoshitaka]]
| commander2        = [[Wŏn Kyun]]{{KIA}}<br/>[[Ch'oe Ho]]{{KIA}}<br/>[[Yi Ŏkki]]{{KIA}}<br/>{{ill|Pae Sŏl|ko|배설 (1551년)}}<br/>[[Pae Hŭngnip]]
| strength2         = a maximum of 200 ships{{sfn|Hawley|2014|p=458}}
| strength1         = 500–1,000 ships{{sfn|Hawley|2014|p=458}}<br>140,000 men{{sfn|Tucker|2009|p=548}}
| casualties2       = 188 ships{{sfn|Hawley|2005|p=450}}
| casualties1       = minimal|
}}
{{Campaignbox Japanese Left Army (1597)}}
{{Campaignbox Seven-Year War}}

The naval '''Battle of Chilcheollyang''' took place on the night of 28 August 1597. It resulted in the destruction of nearly the entire Korean fleet.{{sfn|Hawley|2005|p=450}}

==Background==
Prior to the battle, the previous naval commander [[Yi Sun-sin]] had been removed from his post due to a Japanese plot. The less experienced [[Wŏn Kyun]] was promoted in Yi's place.
Wŏn Kyun set sail for [[Busan]] on 17 August with the entire fleet, some 200 ships.{{sfn|Hawley|2005|p=446}}

==Battle==

The Korean fleet arrived near Busan on 20 August in 1597. As the day was about to end, they met a force of 500 to 1,000 Japanese ships arrayed against them. Wŏn Kyun, leading his first and only naval engagement, ordered a general attack on the enemy armada, but the Japanese fell back, letting the Koreans pursue. After a few back and forth exchanges, with one chasing the other, one retreating, the Japanese turned around one last time, destroying 30 ships and scattering the Korean fleet.{{sfn|Hawley|2005|p=450}}

Wŏn's men docked at [[Gadeokdo]] and ran ashore to find water where they were ambushed by 3,000 enemy troops under [[Shimazu Yoshihiro]]. They lost 400 men and several vessels.{{sfn|Hawley|2005|p=450}}

From Gadeok, Wŏn retreated north and west into the strait between [[Geoje]] and the island of [[Chilchon]], Chilchonnyang. Wŏn Kyun then retired to his flagship and refused to see anyone. The entire fleet sat in the strait for an entire week.{{sfn|Hawley|2005|p=450}}

The Japanese commanders convened on 22 August to plan a joint assault on the Koreans. Shimazu Yoshihiro ferried 2,000 of his men to Geoje, where he arrayed them on the northwest coast, overlooking the Korean fleet below.{{sfn|Hawley|2005|p=450}}

On the night of 28 August, a Japanese fleet of 500 ships moved into the strait and attacked. By dawn, nearly all the Korean ships had been destroyed.{{sfn|Hawley|2005|p=450}}

Wŏn Kyun fled to the mainland but could not keep up with his men. He sat down under a pine tree until the Japanese found him. It is assumed that his head was cut off.{{sfn|Hawley|2005|p=450}}

[[Yi Ŏkki]] also died during the battle after drowning himself.{{sfn|Hawley|2005|p=450}}

==Aftermath==
Prior to the destruction on 28 August, {{ill|Pae Sŏl|ko|배설 (1551년)}} shifted 12 ships to an inlet farther down the strait and managed to escape. Pae Sŏl set fire to the camps at [[Hansando]] before the Japanese arrived. He then sailed west with the remaining 12 ships, all that was left of the Korean navy.{{sfn|Hawley|2005|p=450}}

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{{Refend}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Battle Of Chilcheollyang}}
[[Category:Naval battles of the Imjin War|Chilchonryang]]
[[Category:1597 in Korea]]
[[Category:16th-century military history of Japan|Chilcheollyang]]
[[Category:Yi Sun-sin]]