Jeollanam-do
Yeosu Turtle Ship Festival
여수거북선축제
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This edition has ended. These dates describe the past event; a future edition has not been confirmed on this page.
Plan your visit
- Dates
- –
- Venue
- Yi Sun-sin Square and Jungang-dong Area
- Address
- Jeonnam Gwangju Metropolitan City Yeosu-si Seoneo Market-gil 6 (Jungang-dong)
- Admission
- Free
- Organizer
- Yeosu-si / Yeosu Turtle Ship Festival Promotion Committee
Page updated . Dates and availability can change; confirm with the organizer before travelling.
About the festival
The Yeosu Turtle Ship Festival is a celebration that honors the spirits of the soldiers and leaders of the Opo region, including Suncheon Dohobu, Nakan-gun, Boseong-gun, Gwangyang-hyeon, and Heungyang-hyeon, which were under the jurisdiction of the Jeonrajwa-do Navy during the Imjin War. The festival is held around May 4th each year to commemorate the first deployment of the fleet by General Isunsin, who was appointed as the 3rd rank Jeonrajwasu in 1591, gathering the soldiers from the Opo region to confront the invading Japanese forces the following year. The Jeonrajwasu Navy, consisting of local leaders, soldiers, and the Mumyeongsu-gun, achieved remarkable naval tactics with 85 warships, never suffering a defeat against the Japanese. In 1593, the Jeonrajwasu Navy was elevated to the first Samdosugun Command, overseeing the navies of Chungcheong, Jeolla, and Gyeongsang. General Isunsin was appointed as the 2nd rank Samdosuguntongje-Temple and led the Joseon Navy, ultimately bringing an end to the seven-year war. Yeosu is a city with a clear historical basis as the first location of the Samdosugun Command and the Jeonrajwa-do Navy, existing for nine years. The area around Jinnamgwan in Yeosu is the former site of the Samdosugun Command and the Jeonrajwa-do Navy. Chungmin-Temple in Deokchung-dong is the first shrine in Joseon to be named by King Seonjo in 1601 after the death of General Lee Chungmu. On the first day of the festival, a traditional ritual to announce the opening of the Turtle Ship Festival begins at Chungmin-Temple, followed by the 'Tongjeonggilnori' performance at sunset, and various traditional cultural performances and exhibitions continue for four days at Isunsin Square and the surrounding area. The Yeosu Turtle Ship Festival is a representative festival of Jeonnamgwangjutonghapteukbyeol-si, created by the citizens of Yeosu to convey the significance of the achievements and spirit of the people and Mumyeongsu-gun who sacrificed their lives to protect the country, and it is a proud national cultural festival of our country.