Yi Sun-sin's raid at Busan destroyed over 100 Japanese ships, disrupting enemy supply lines and shifting naval control during the 1592 Japanese invasion of Korea.
Key Facts
- Date (Korean calendar)
- 1st day, 9th month, 1592
- Japanese ships destroyed
- Over 100 ships
- Korean casualties
- 7 (1 officer, 6 soldiers) persons
- Korean commander
- Admiral Yi Sun-sin
- Japanese fleet owner
- Toyotomi Hideyoshi
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Japan's 1592 invasion of Korea (Imjin War) had overrun the peninsula, capturing Busan as a key logistical hub. The Japanese army depended on this port to supply its forces deep inland, making the anchored fleet at Busan a critical strategic target for Korean forces seeking to sever enemy supply lines.
Korean Admiral Yi Sun-sin launched a surprise naval bombardment against the Japanese fleet anchored at Busan on the 1st day of the 9th month of 1592. The attack destroyed more than 100 Japanese ships while the Korean force suffered only seven deaths, including officer Chŏng Un, before successfully withdrawing.
The destruction of over 100 Japanese vessels at Busan cost Japan naval dominance around Joseon's waters. Although Busan itself was not recaptured, Japanese supply lines were severely disrupted, weakening the army's ability to sustain its inland campaign and contributing to a broader shift in the war's momentum.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Yi Sun-sin.
Side B
1 belligerent