ADMIRAL YI SUN-SIN

Born in Seoul in April 1545, Korean lord Yi Sun-sin wasn't your typical aristocrat. While most well-heeled youth in Joseon-era Korea shared a Confucian disdain for martial arts, Yi hurled himself into the traditional pursuits of archery, horse riding and swordsmanship. As his wealthy peers searched for ways to evade military service, Yi served with pride. In an exam in 1576, he was thrown from his horse so violently he broke a leg. Undeterred, he fashioned a splint from a willow branch and dragged himself back onto his horse to complete the test.

After graduating, he was made a navy commander on the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula. However, he soon learned a bitter lesson about the petty intrigues that plagued the Joseon military. When Yi dared to speak out against institutional corruption, his furious superiors stripped him of his title and forced him to take command of the fortress of Konwon, a dangerous position on the