Battle of Chilcheollyang - Aftermath

Aftermath

The Battle of Chilcheollyang resulted in the destruction of the Korean navy and a huge loss of life. When King Seonjo and the Korean court heard of the battle on July 22, they were left shocked and devastated. They pardoned Admiral Yi (who had spent some time as a common foot soldier under General Gwon Yul), and put him back as the commander of the now small and weak Korean fleet on the same day. With only 200 men, and the 13 ships that Bae Seol had fled with, Admiral Yi then had to fight the Japanese with overwhelming odds against him.

Although he had a disadvantage, Admiral Yi would emerge as a hero and victor at the Battle of Myeongnyang when he destroyed a Japanese fleet of 330 ships with only 13 ships (minus the ship captained by the once again fleeing Bae Seol).

The immediate consequence was a near complete collapse of the allied defenses in southern Korea, as the Japanese forces were now able to surge forward without having to worry about their logistics being destroyed by the Korean navy. Key southern defensive fortresses such as Namwon were left completely exposed.

Within weeks, the Japanese forces took much of Jeolla province and surrounded the fortress of Namwon, and then took it in the ensuing Siege of Namwon.