Yeosu, a Naval Stronghold for 400 Years During the Joseon Dynasty
Jinnamgwan Hall, a National Treasure, is a single-story wooden building constructed in 1599, the year after the Imjin War ended. A symbol of national defense and a site of historical significance, it is one of Yeosu’s most iconic landmarks.Originally used as a guesthouse for government officials, Jinnamgwan Hall was designated a Treasure in 1963. Its exceptional historical significance and cultural value were later recognized when it was designated National Treasure No. 304 in 2001. Manghaeru Pavilion, a two-story structure that serves as the main entrance to Jinnamgwan Hall, was demolished during the Japanese colonial period but has since been restored.
Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s Former Headquarters of the Jeolla Left Naval Command
In 1599, the 32nd year of King Seonjo’s reign, Yi Si-eon, who succeeded Admiral Yi Sun-sin as naval commander-in-chief and commander of the Jeolla Left Naval Command, built a large, 75-bay guesthouse on the site of Jinhaeru Pavilion. The pavilion had served as Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s headquarters for the Jeolla Left Naval Command before being destroyed by fire during the second Japanese invasion of Korea in 1597. Yi named the new building Jinnamgwan Hall, meaning “to suppress Japanese invaders from the south and bring peace to the nation.”
The hall retains its historical significance as a key naval base that contributed to victories during the Imjin War and the Jeongyu War. It also preserves architectural features dating from its reconstruction in 1718, the 44th year of King Sukjong’s reign, under Yi Je-myeon, Commander of the Jeolla Left Naval Command. Measuring 15 bays across the front and five bays along the sides, with a floor area of approximately 793 square meters, Jinnamgwan Hall is the largest surviving local government building in Korea. Apart from temple corridors, palace colonnades, and the main hall of Jongmyo Shrine, only two buildings in Korea retain this 75-bay configuration (15 bays by five bays): the woodblock repository at Haeinsa Temple in Hapcheon and Jinnamgwan Hall.
The roof of Jinnamgwan Hall is a hip-and-gable roof, with increasingly thick layers of lime mortar and wooden packing materials toward the eaves. The roof is covered with standard tiles (convex and concave tiles) and decorative tiles, including ornamental end tiles along the eaves and dragon-head ornaments on the main ridge and descending ridges. The building has a total of 70 columns: 40 outer columns and 30 inner columns. The building was previously believed to have 68 columns. However, during dismantling work, two foundation stones and the remains of two cut-off columns were discovered beneath the floor, leading to the restoration of the two missing columns. The bracket systems (gongpo) feature a variety of styles, including column-head brackets (jusimpo), wing-shaped brackets (ikgong), and multiple-cluster brackets (dapo).
The tops of the columns are adorned with elaborate lotus bud motifs, while the columns flanking the central entrance and those at the corners feature wing-shaped brackets decorated with dragon heads. Each bay between the columns features an ornate decorative bracket (hwaban), enhancing the building’s facade. Various styles of traditional decorative painting, including geumdancheong and morodancheong, adorn the interior and exterior surfaces and structural elements. To maximize the use of interior space, some inner columns along both sides of the building are positioned differently from the main rows of inner columns. The roof framework features simple yet sturdy structural components that contribute to the building’s grandeur.
The building features two transverse beams on each side, providing exceptional structural stability. Although the building was reconstructed in the early 18th century, it holds outstanding academic and artistic value in addition to its historical significance.
Yeosu Stone Statue: A Testament to Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s Strategic Ingenuity
The human-shaped stone statue standing in the courtyard of Jinnamgwan Hall is another notable historical artifact.
Yeosu is renowned as the site of major naval battles during the Imjin War. The former Jeolla Left Naval Command, where Admiral Yi Sun-sin served as commander, is home to numerous historical sites associated with the admiral. This stone statue is another artifact linked to his legacy.
Recognized as a tangible cultural heritage of Jeonnam–Gwangju Special Metropolitan City, the Yeosu Stone Statue is said to date back to the Imjin War. According to legend, when Japanese attacks intensified while Admiral Yi Sun-sin was building turtle ships, he had seven human-shaped stone statues erected to deceive the enemy and deter further attacks. The tactic is believed to have helped lead his forces to victory in the war.
Of the original seven statues, six have been lost. The sole surviving statue depicts a typical Joseon-era scholar wearing a traditional head covering and dopo (a traditional Korean robe), with his arms folded.
Although this single stone statue does not provide sufficient evidence to confirm that human-shaped stone figures were used as decoys at the time, it offers valuable insight into the folk beliefs surrounding stone figures during the mid-Joseon period and holds artistic significance as a work of sculpture.
