Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin

The series follows Admiral Yi Sun-sin during the late 16th century, focusing less on a strict biography and more on what people become under extreme pressure. Rather than presenting Yi as a legendary figure from the start, the show traces his growth, conflicts with court politics, and the strain of defending the coast during the Hideyoshi invasions. Multiple officers, royal figures, and ordinary sailors are shown making hard choices, and the drama highlights how leadership, doubt, loyalty, and fear shape their actions. It avoids revealing major plot twists here, but expect a character-driven military drama that treats historical events as a backdrop for moral and personal struggles, aiming to show how an extraordinary reputation can arise from ordinary human moments.

Released in 2004, the TV drama was directed by Han Joon-seo and created by Lee Sung-joo and Kim Jeong-gyu. Kim Myung-min stars as Yi Sun-sin, supported by Choi Cheol-ho, Choi Jae-sung, and Lee In, among others.

The show did not attract wide awards attention internationally. Contemporary records and mainstream Korean awards lists do not highlight major wins for this production, and it appears to have had limited recognition in prize circuits.

Within South Korea the series contributed to ongoing interest in Yi Sun-sin as a complex historical figure rather than an untouchable icon. By portraying familiar episodes with an emphasis on personal cost and political tension, it fed discussions about how television can reframe national heroes, especially for viewers who prefer human-scaled historical storytelling.

Critical response was mixed, and audience feedback was modest, reflected in a small number of ratings like the 5.0/10 average on some databases. Reviewers and viewers tended to note the emphasis on ethical choices, leadership under pressure, and the corrosive effects of court intrigue, even when commenting that the pacing and production values sometimes limited its impact.