'Noryang: The Sea of Death' to wrap up trilogy on Joseon military hero Yi Sun-sin

From left, actors Jung Jae-young, Kim Yoon-seok, Baek Yoon-sik and Huh Joon-ho pose during a press conference for the new historical action film, "Noryang: The Sea of Death,” at Lotte Cinema in Gwangjin District, Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of Acemaker Movieworks and Lotte Entertainment

“Noryang: The Sea of Death,” the last of the film trilogy on Korea’s legendary historical figure, Admiral Yi Sun-sin, is finally set to hit local theaters on Dec. 20, ending a decade-long journey.

“This (film series) carries a profound message about the admiral’s great convictions and perseverance. It is not a stretch to say that this message has been carried on from ‘The Admiral: Roaring Currents’ (2014), and ‘Hansan: Rising Dragon’ (2022) up to ‘Noryang,’” director Kim Han-min, who also led the two previous films, said during a press conference for the film, held at Lotte Cinema in Gwangjin District, Seoul, Wednesday.

The upcoming action film follows the historic he Battle of Noryang during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598). In 1598, Yi (Kim Yoon-seok) prepares for the last major combat to completely defeat the Japanese force retreating from Joseon, which put an end to the war.

The director said that the last installment will incorporate the know-how he has acquired through working on the previous films over the years.

“(The Battle of Noryang) is the largest naval battle in the East Asian region. It starts at night and continues until the morning. So it was inevitable to call it the 'Sea of Death,’” he said.

“All the know-how and experiences I’ve accumulated through the first two films have been upgraded and integrated into 'Noryang.' You can think of it as the film that sums everything up.”

A scene from the film, "Noryang: The Sea of Death" / Courtesy of Acemaker Movieworks and Lotte Entertainment

For each installment, different actors played Admiral Yi — Choi Min-sik for the first, and Park Hae-il for the second. In the last series, KimYoon-seok takes on the role.

“'Myeongnyang,' (the first film) was fire, and 'Hansan' was water in terms of their tone. And for the concluding one, ‘Noryang,’ we needed the synergy from those two elements combined. When I thought of who could bring that out, it is Kim Yoon-seok,” the director said, adding that the film will also have a great ensemble of actors.

“The actors put on excellent performances. Their charisma is truly outstanding. When you watch it in the theater, you will receive a profound and vivid emotional impact.”

Kim Yoon-seok said he was hesitant to take on the role as portraying the heroic real-life figure entails a hefty responsibility, but he came around after reading the script.

“Everyone sees the role of Admiral Yi Sun-sin as honorable, but at the same time, as overwhelming, like the two sides of a coin. While I was contemplating (taking on the role), I read the script and felt it was impressively well-woven. I wondered how remarkable a piece of work it would be if it was brought to life. So I decided to join the project with a sense of gratitude and appreciation,” he said, adding that he had to epitomize the previous series’ portrayal of Yi to create his character.

“(This film) depicts the inner struggles of Admiral Yi the most, compared to the previous ones. I had to carry the image of Yi Sun-sin from 'Myeongnyang' and 'Hansan' in both my heart and mind.”