Released in South Korea on July 30, 2014, Director Kim Han-min’s "Roaring Currents/명량" drew a staggering 17.61 million admissions. It earned 135.7 billion KRW (approximately $128 million USD based on 2014 exchange rates), making it the highest-grossing film of all time in South Korea to this day.
The Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty (Joseon Wangjo Sillok) is a monumental historical record covering 472 years. Reading through these annals, one might occasionally wonder, "Why didn't this dynasty collapse sooner?" given the presence of incompetent monarchs like King Seonjo and his sycophantic officials. On the eve of the Imjin War, the court's failure to read the geopolitical situation left the people to be slaughtered. Amidst this, Admiral Yi Sun-sin was falsely accused, tortured, and stripped of his rank, only to be reinstated when the nation faced total annihilation in 1597.
"I still have twelve ships."
Left with only 12 ships after a disastrous defeat by his predecessor, Yi faced a Japanese fleet of 330. When the cowardly King ordered him to abandon the sea, Yi replied: "I still have twelve ships." He rallied his men with the legendary command: "Those who seek death shall live; those who seek life shall die (必死則生 必生則死)." The film highlights Yi’s strategic brilliance—using the treacherous currents of the Myeongnyang Strait and the superior firepower of Korean Panokseon warships. Unlike the stylized combat of Hollywood's 300: Rise of an Empire, this film delivers a raw sense of urgency and catharsis. When asked why he risks his life for a crown that betrayed him, Yi responds: "The loyalty of a general must follow duty, and that duty must be toward the people." Roaring Currents is a visceral exploration of Korean reverence for this hero and the deep-seated historical tensions between Korea and Japan. It captures not just a naval victory, but the spirit of a man who held a crumbling nation together. ★By Jae-hwan Park, Seoul (2026)
To the Source: The Original Korean Verse in Entirety. [Read the Original]
The Battle of Myeongnyang: A Miracle at Sea
The Battle of Myeongnyang, fought on October 26, 1597, is one of Admiral Yi Sun-sin's most legendary victories during the Imjin War (Japanese invasions of Korea). Located in the narrow strait between Munnae-myeon, Haenam (Woosuyeong) and Gunnae-myeon, Jindo (Nokjin), the battle saw a mere 13 Joseon warships defeat a massive Japanese fleet of over 300 vessels. Admiral Yi masterfully utilized the strait’s treacherous, roaring currents—which reach speeds of up to 10 knots—as a "force multiplier" to overcome overwhelming odds. For more historical details, visit the Battle of Myeongnyang - Wikipedia.