Admiral Lee Victory Park (이충무공 승전공원) - Jindo, Korea - Municipal Parks and Plazas on Waymarking.com

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The dominating feature of this park is the great bronze statue of Admiral Yi Sun-shin. Although I could find no statistics on this colossal stature, I would estimate its height to be at least twenty feet, and the tall pedestal another thirty feet. Let's just say that this is an imposing statue visible from quite a distance, and overwhelming when one stands near it. Admiral Yi is depicted in full battle armor with his right arm outstretched as if instructing his ships, with his left hand gripping his sword at his side.

There is also a bronze relief sculpture of the a battle and interpretive signs. A boardwalk runs along the the shore from the statue to an elevated viewing deck with a replica of the dragon head that was mounted on some of the famous iron-clad turtle ships that were a major factor in Admiral Yi's navel victories.

This is a new park still being developed on the island of Jindo just northwest of the great pair of suspension bridges that connect it to the mainland. This figure of Admiral Yi is facing the Myeongnyang Straight and the bridge. At the time of this visit in the spring of 2012, there was a new visitors center, perhaps museum, under construction for a new section of the park.

The Great Jindo Bridge itself was a historic construction in 1984 as the longest suspension bridge in Korea at the time. A second bridge, on which this statue stands, was built in 2005 beside the original, narrow bridge. There are smaller statues of Admiral Yi at each end of the second bridge, with statues of his famous turtle boats (the world's first iron-clad naval vessels) across from them.

Admiral Yi (also spelled Lee, pronounced in Korean simply as "ee") is undoubtedly the most celebrated hero in Korean history. Statues of him are everywhere, including the monumental statue in Gwangwhamun, Seoul. But, he is especially honored here on the southern coast of Korea where his final battles with the Japanese invaders took place.

Yi Sun-shin was a brilliant military strategist. Although he had no prior naval training or experience, his dominance during the Japanese invasion of the Korean peninsula in the 16th century is legendary. Indeed, his defeat of the Japanese in battle after battle, was the crucial element in their defeat after they had nearly consolidated their occupation, with designs to move on into China.

The Myeongnyang Straight, between Jindo and the mainland, is where Admiral Yi fought one of the most decisive and celebrated battles of the war, crushing an armada of 113 Japanese warships and its 200 support vessels with only 13 of his own ships. It was partly his knowledge of the treacherous tides here, rated as the fastest tidal currents in Asia, with its unpredictable eddies and reversals, that led to Yi's great victory on October 26, 1597

Name: Admiral Lee Victory Park Street Location: Admiral Lee Victory Park Local Municipality: Jindo State/Province, etc.: Jeollanamdo Country: Korea Memorial/Commemoration: Admiral Yi Sun-Shin Monuments/Statues: Admiral Yi Sun-Shin Web Site: Not listed Date Established: Not listed Picnic Facilities: Not listed Recreational Facilities: Not listed Art (murals/sculpture, etc.): Not listed Fountains: Not listed Ponds/Lakes/Streams/Rivers/Beach: Not listed Special Events: Not listed Traditional Geocaches: Not listed

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