On the night of 28 August 1597, the Combined Joseon Navy was surprised and destroyed in the Strait of Chilcheollyang. Having gotten Admiral Yi arrested and taken his place as commander, Admiral Won Gyun led the hitherto undefeated fleet to a minor loss just west of Busan. Having stopped for water at Gadeok Island, his men were ambushed by Shimazu forces hiding there and Won took more losses. Attempting to reconsolidate his scattered fleet, Won dropped anchor in the constricted waters of Chilcheollyang Strait and waited . . . for an entire week. Less than three kilometers away, the garrisons of not one but two Japanese castles witnessed and duly reported his arrival. The Japanese attack destroyed everything Yi had worked to achieve, in one bold stroke handing a hard-won maritime supremacy to the Japanese. Admiral Bae Seol and his 12 warships fled the battle, all that remained of the once dominant Joseon fleet.
This view looks north toward the narrowest section of the strait. Taken from the bridge that now bears its name, it was from this direction that Won led the fleet. It was also from this direction that the Japanese fleet struck at night.
Jamok Bay today. In 1592 the highlands at the mouth of the bay bore not one but two Japanese castles. On the left (south) side was Jangmunpo Castle. On the right, Songjinpo. In 1593 Admiral Yi repeatedly sent his squadrons to bombard and snipe at laborers and soldiers here. In 1597, however, this fortified Japanese harbor lay a mere three kilometers from where Won anchored his fleet, which no doubt played a significant role in planning and executing the Japanese attack which followed.
Won Gyun fled ashore upon realizing the magnitude of his mistake. He would never again leave Geoje Island. Whether the Japanese caught up with him on land or he took his own life remains unknown.
Bae Seol led his small fleet away from the slaughter to the south. From here he sailed directly to Hansan Island where he evacuated all personnel onto his warships and then burned the headquarters buildings. He would flee west, his ships becoming all that would stand between the Japanese and the West Sea. This was the naval battle that set the scene for Admiral Yi’s reinstatement and subsequent “Miracle at Myeongnyang”.