Bulmyeolui Lee Soon-shin

To make things better and for all who have missed some episodes, the DVD set was released on August 17th. If one wants to get more in-depth information about the Admiral Yi Sun Shin, if it is possible locate a copy of a novel called THE SONG OF THE SWORD, which was a best seller in Korea back in 2003 and recalls the life of the admiral, after his arrest and his release. The author was inspired by the autobiography of Yi out of which some real text are used to add some realism to the text. The novel gives you a very deep and broad look at the Stoic character that Yi had. The book is called called El CANTO DE LA ESPADA and was released in other languages. I read my copy in Spanish.

The Immortal Yi Soon Shin is no exception. Even if you don't understand a lick of Korean, the dialect, or the culture, the acting is amazing! Not only is the acting exemplary, but the cinematography, uniforms, and action trump any drama in the United States. Watch it, you will love it! In the United States, the show has subtitles, so following the dialogue is no problem. If there were no subtitles, the acting is so prolific that I could probably surmise what is going on in the plot or the individual episode. I am hooked on this gem, and I have been watching it for a long time. Luckily, I found episodes of it online, and I cannot tear myself away from it, except maybe when nature calls.

Why do people tell us about Nelson or Drake all the time when Yi Soon-sin exists and nobody talks about him? Did any of those admirals win a battle without losing a ship? Did they win 13 boats to 120 to 333 ships? Did they sink 500 ships without losing not even one? Well, Yi Soon-sin does. The first time you hear about him you say that is impossible, I should check this, but when you hear about Hansando, Myeongyang, Sacheon, Okpo, Noryang... But Yi Soon-sin has enemies from Japan:

• Toyotomi Hideyoshi
• Wakizaka Yasuharu
• Todo Takatora
• Konishi Yukinawa

But also enemies in Korea, who sent him to jail: -The Western Faction But some friends: -Sung-Riong And some like Won Kyun who is first a friend and then he sends him to jail. Sometimes the information is not exact.because they invent all Yi Soon-sin's life and not only the battles.

I tell my friends that the best show on TV right now is a 100+ episode costume historical series --in Korean with subtitles-- and they just roll their eyes. But this show is extraordinary. Besides being a gorgeous production, the plotting is tight and fast and the acting absolutely top-notch.

I've watched other Korean historical dramas,including Age of Warriors, which I also enjoyed. (A number of actors overlap between the two series.) Yi Sun Shin seems to me the best of a very good lot. It combines historical sweep and spectacle with human scale story-telling and considerable depth of genuine emotion. It addresses the strength and weaknesses of the monarchy, as well as the day to day lives of Yi Sun Shin's rag-tag navy crews.

Some historians suggest that Yi Sun Shin was a finer naval strategist that Nelson, and this show brings across the kind of genius and self-discipline that makes that claim believable.

To tell the truth I knew absolutely nothing about Korea or it's history this time last year,but now I am following the life of one of the greatest men who ever lived.Yi Sun Shin,The man was so unbelievable!The wisdom and intelligence the man had for that day and age was totally remarkable. To fight against all kinds of odds to defend mostly single-handedly the land that he loved,with courage and compassion that has somehow been lost in the passing decades.The care he showed his men and the tenderness he displayed when it was needed,how he never saw himself as more than just a "humble man" speaks volumns about why he is called a hero and why he is called "immortal".If anyone gets a chance to watch this movie or read his War Diaries,please do.