Myeongnyang Battle Festival
🗓️ 2026.09.11 ~ 2026.09.13
The Myeongnyang Great Victory Festival is a patriotic history and culture festival commemorating the Battle of Myeongnyang, an unprecedented event in world history. At Uldolmok on September 16, 1597, the Joseon Navy—led by General Yi Sun-sin, who was reappointed as Naval Commander of the Three Provinces—and the fishermen of Jeolla-do defeated the Japanese Navy. Held annually since 2008 by Jeollanam-do, Jindo-gun, and Haenam-gun, the festival is a representative local history and culture festival.
The festival is known for its distinctive mix of historical commemoration and modern technology. Its programs include an ICT convergence multimedia naval battle that recreates the Battle of Myeongnyang in a contemporary format, a maritime parade, a departure parade, and local performances. Landscape lighting is installed throughout the festival grounds, and history and culture programs give visitors the chance to directly experience the historical site of the Great Victory of Myeongnyang. Through this combination, the festival promotes the historical value and patriotic spirit of the battle while introducing the historical, cultural, and tourism resources of Jindo and Haenam.
Festival Programs
The festival is organized into four categories of programming.
Main Programs
- Opening Ceremony
- Digital Convergence Naval Battle
- Departure Parade
- Whirlwind Fireworks Show
- Maritime Parade
Side Programs
- Landscape Lighting of the Yi Sun-sin Statue
- Joseon Navy Lantern Exhibition
- Myeongnyang Great Victory Archive Exhibition
- Myeongnyang Great Victory Stamp Rally
- Myeongnyang Naval Battle AR/MR Experience
Consumer Participation Programs
- General’s Uniform Experience
- Navy Barracks Experience
- Traditional Korean Musical Instrument Making Experience
Other Content
- Arm Wrestling Competition
- Youth Trot Song Festival
- Youth Song & Dance Competition
Practical Information
📍 Address: 11 Myeongnyangdaecheop-ro, Gunnae-myeon, Jindo-gun, Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City
🛏️ Accommodations near the event
💰 Fee: Free
📞 Inquiry: 061-802-2192
🖥️ Website: https://www.mldc.kr/web/
The Battle of Myeongnyang was fought on October 26, 1597, in the narrow strait between the Korean mainland and Jindo Island, during the Imjin War (1592–1598). The Korean fleet was commanded by Admiral Yi Sun-sin. Earlier that year, most of Korea’s navy had been lost at Chilcheollyang, leaving Yi with a small number of ships. The surviving force at Myeongnyang is consistently given as thirteen warships. The Japanese fleet was far larger; estimates vary from roughly 130 warships to more than 300 vessels when support craft are counted.
Yi chose to meet the Japanese force in the strait rather than in open water. Myeongnyang was known for strong, fast-moving currents that shifted direction with the tide. In that confined channel, the Japanese fleet could not use its numerical advantage effectively. When the current turned, Japanese ships were pushed into disorder, and Korean cannon and archery fire inflicted heavy losses. Contemporary accounts report that several dozen Japanese vessels were sunk or disabled, while the Korean side lost none of its thirteen ships.
In strategic terms, the victory prevented a Japanese advance toward the capital and allowed the Korean navy to regroup and rebuild over the following months. It did not end the war, but it removed the immediate threat in that sector. The battle is often cited in military histories as a case study in the defensive use of currents and narrow waters against a larger force.
