Admiral Yi Sun-sin in Park Chung-hee’s politics

Admiral Yi Sun-sin is a national hero of the Korean people, revered both in the DPRK and in the Republic of Korea. More than four and a half centuries after his heroic death, his image was actively revived by another historical figure, Park Chung-hee. General Park Chung-hee, who came to power through a military coup, ruled South Korea with an iron fist for 18 years. According to public opinion polls, this president has remained the most popular in the country's history for many years. His main achievement is the creation of the “economic miracle on the Hangang River”, which turned one of the poorest countries in the world into a prosperous state. President Park actively, persistently and skillfully introduced the heroic image of Naval Commander Yi Sun-sin into the public consciousness. The interpretation of the Admiral's historical role changed during the reign of Park Chung-hee. At first, Yi Sun-sin was portrayed as a patriot who gave his life in the fight against foreign invaders, an outstanding military leader and the creator of the world's first armored ship. Then, the image of a loyal subject came to the fore: an official who, despite the injustice of the higher authorities, never opposed them and continued to serve the government faithfully, without thinking about personal enrichment or fame. The study shows that through the prism of this historical figure, Park Chung-hee successfully consolidated his regime and legitimized his own policies based on nationalism and anti-communism.