Original subtitles

CJ ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS

A BIG STONE PICTURES PRODUCTION

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER JEONG TAE-SUNG

A KIM HAN-MIN FILM

1592, FIRST JAPANESE INVASION

WHEN HIS FREE PASSAGE TO CHINA WAS REJECTED,

CHANCELLOR TOYOTOMI DECLARES WAR ON JOSEON.

AS THE ALLIED FORCE OF JOSEON AND CHINA

FENDED OFF HIS GROUND FORCE SOUTHWARDS,

ADMIRAL YI SUN-SHIN LED THE FIGHT

ON THE SOUTHERN SEA BY HIMSELF.

1597, SECOND JAPANESE INVASION

150,000 JAPANESE TROOPS WERE DEPLOYED TO THE SECOND ASSAULT.

CAPTURING TWO CRUCIAL REGIONS IN AUGUST,

THE INVASION FORCE QUICKLY SET ITS SIGHTS ON THE CAPITAL.

ACCUSED BY A DOUBLE AGENT, YI WAS DISCHARGED

AND HIS NAVY WAS DECIMATED WITHOUT HIM.

IN THE MEANTIME, YI WAS SENT UNDER ESCORT AND TORTURED.

AFTER HIS KING QUICKLY PARDONED AND REINSTATED HIM,

YI BEGAN RALLYING THE REMAINING WARSHIPS AND TROOPS.

HE OBTAINS 12 SHIPS THAT SURVIVED THE BATTLES

AND ENCAMPS ON THE SOUTHERN SEA

JUST 20KM AWAY IN HAENAM, JAPAN’S NAVY SETS UP BASE,

PREPARING TO ATTACK WITH OVER 300 SHIPS.

ROARING CURRENTS

JAPANESE FORWARD OPERATING BASE

We must capture King Seonjo and end this war.

We cannot let him slip through our fingers like before.

We must coordinate, like a perfect storm!

-Prepare at once! -Yes, Commander.

We can't allow Konishi to dethrone Joseon first.

But Chancellor Hideyoshi wants us to wait for his man.

So we have no choice.

Aren't those Wakizaka's ships?

Yes, back from reconnaissance.

How many trips?

Three, including last night's.

But sir,

who is the chancellor sending us?

Someone essential to this battle, I'm told.

One who can overpower Yi Sun-shin.

JINDO JOSEON FORWARD OPERATING BASE

DEPLOY IMMINENT

The enemy is swarming with activity.

Over 200 warships are docked,

supply ships are being loaded,

and they're stealing provisions from villagers.

They cut off the nose of any who resist,

and use children for target practice.

It seems as if

they're on the verge of deployment.

LIEUTENANT SONG HUI-RIP

Is it true that

25,000 Japanese reinforcement soldiers are en route?

Yes, it appears so.

They act like our navy does not exist,

and talk of swarming the capital,

like it was nothing at all.

We must do something,

or the capital will be flooded with blood.

Deliver this to Junsa and return with his report.

Yes, sir.

The figurehead is complete!

The figurehead is complete!

Turtle ship's figurehead!

Sweetheart.

Another talisman?

This isn't my first mission.

But I'll treasure it.

I'm off.

Take care of yourself!

Father! Father!

Captain Bae tried, but they're gonna kill him!

He had to! We'll die anyway!

Father! Father!

I will…

GENERAL WAKIZAKA, JAPANESE NAVY

...Have your head!

Father!

Forgive me for interfering.

I couldn't simply pass by.

Are you the one sent by the chancellor?

It's the navy from Ehime Prefecture.

They're not navy. Pirates, more like.

Let's move.

Junsa

JINDO, NEAR MYEONGNYANG STRAIT

So, admiral.

When will you join them?

What do you mean?

As per royal order, of course.

Your orders are to join forces with ground troops

under General Gwon Yul.

Is that what it says?

What?

With all due respect,

the enemy has over 200 ships!

Our men are deserting their posts!

The number of deserters has reached

50...

I must ease my mind.

200 enemy ships could invade at any moment!

What strategy...

have you in mind to repel them?

Let's hear from the young officers!

Do we stand a chance?

Do we?

Don't save your breath!

Admiral.

Please help us erase all doubt.

Aside from a damaged turtle ship, what plan is in place?

You're addressing our commander!

How dare you!

I'm your ranking officer!

Shut your hole and listen!

You have no right!

You're merely a deserter who fled from Chilcheollyang!

This briefing is adjourned.

-Dismissed. -Admiral!

He gave an order!

Everyone out!

Our priority is to repair ships and train our men!

Now!

JOSEON ARMY BASE

Is Yi disobeying the royal order again?

He pursues what he feels is a logical path.

If he disobeys the royal order, I cannot guarantee his safety.

The southern provinces have fallen.

Japan's ground forces are northbound.

If their navy should also reach the capital

via the southern sea,

what would happen?

But what can he do with a measly 12 ships?

How can 12 measly ships reinforce the army?

Don't mince words!

I know he's not even in good health!

And who's responsible for that?

You son of a...

Do you even know the situation here?

The infamous Kiyomasa is knocking at our gate.

Ergo! We need every able body still standing!

Grab him!

Grab him!

Let go!

Let go!

Please general, grant us men and weapons!

The navy is facing a Goliath!

So obey the royal order.

Will you ignore the admiral's earnest request?

How dare you!

You are out of line!

What are you all waiting for?!

Take him away and lock him up this instant!

General!

General!

Please!

Admiral wishes to convey these words!

“To forfeit the sea is to forfeit Joseon!”

General! General!

I've waited half a day.

Is this how you treat your guest?

We were too focused on the war briefing

to give attention to our guest.

I beg your forgiveness.

By the way, how do pirates

usually kill a king?

Please enlighten us.

I've surveyed the region.

If we ride the morning tide in the strait,

we can resupply the troops by night,

and sail into the capital.

We'll be there in a day and a half.

Easier said than done.

Yi Sun-shin is not a feeble adversary.

Sailing the open sea,

and approaching the capital

to annihilate Yi with the army is the best strategy.

Why do you think

Hideyoshi sent me, Wakizaka?

How dare you utter his name!

I will crush Yi with this hand.

Will you allow Konishi to walk into the capital first?

I've committed a grave mistake.

Please forgive my men.

Sit with me, Kurushima.

Make way!

Admiral.

YOU TOO WILL ALL PERISH MERCILESSLY

Look… Look at this…

That's Captain Bae Hong-suk!

He led the flagship!

-Get them out of here! -Get them out!

-Get out of there! -Now!

Why did he do it?

Isn't that Oh Sang-gu?

He got caught trying to flee!

It is! It's Sang-gu!

BOWMAN OH SANG-GU

He was captured near Blood Isle while fleeing.

My comrades of six years all died in Chilcheollyang.

Today I buried them with my own hands...

I couldn't help myself.

Now, my turn will come.

Must all of us die in vain?

Are you finished?

Discipline stands!

In any situation!

Is that clear?

There's no way out now.

He'll kill even his own.

There is...

always a way.

BLOOD ISLE

As the bottleneck of the strait,

the current is very strong here.

They say it is so treacherous, nothing can escape.

Is it here, sir?

Sir, we can assume that they'll only enter this strait

if they see it as an advantage.

Look at those waves.

They'll ride those waves and ram into our ships.

We don't stand a chance.

That's why we need the turtle ship.

Use it to break the front line,

and our warships can fire cannons from a distance.

It takes half a day for the tide to change,

will the turtle ship hold?

When the tide changes, the sea calms considerably.

But that sound...

has changed from what it was before.

It is like the sound of a man's howling.

The real problem is the whirlpool.

You rarely hear the sound during semi-diurnal.

But if somehow you should hear it then,

a giant whirlpool appears.

Semi-diurnal comes in 2 days, and so it could only mean…

YI HOE

Do you hear it?

I hear that sound...

as the howling of men lost in Chilcheollyang.

Is the turtle ship your only tactic?

Tactics are not the problem.

It's the fear that is spreading among my men like a virus.

Is there a way to overcome it?

What are we to do if we cannot?

Is beheading our own men, as in this morning,

the only means of discipline?

Can we achieve the victory that way?

-But you-- -We can use it.

You mean...

the fear?

Admiral...

It is unjust…

Admiral...

Avenge us...

Avenge us...

So good to see you.

Welcome, Hong-suk.

Captain Choi, Captain Lee...

Avenge us...

Come...

accept my drink.

Please take this drink.

Men...

Where are you going?

Captain Lee… Captain Choi… Hong-suk…

Please! Why must you rush off?

Father!

The turtle ship's on fire!

Admiral!

It's General Bae Seol's first mate.

Put out the fire!

Hurry!

Put it out!

Bring water!

Over there!

Hear me! Don't you want to live!

A dying man

is leading us to the gates of hell!

But, I

have found a way out!

Do not senselessly throw away your lives!

Join me!

Commander Todo!

Yi's turtle ship has burned.

What?

A scout was sent after spotting fire and smoke from Yi's base,

and the ship is now ashes.

It was his last turtle ship, was it not?

Yes.

Yi does not have any turtle ships left.

Taito mumun...

"Do not look back when the only course is forward."

I feel your great resolve in the calligraphy.

This is the spirit we need at this junction.

Prepare for battle!

Prepare for battle!

Junsa... Where are you...

What happened here?

Help!

Grab him!

Get him!

Please! Help me!

Help me!

Hurry up!

Find the other one!

Find him!

Hurry up!

March!

March!

I'm from a fishing village,

and I can row very well!

What's he jabbering?

Really good rower! One of the best!

What the hell?

Su-bong!

You little rat!

Wait! I'm sorry!

Please don't kill me!

Calm down!

Father!

Father!

A message from Junsa!

We'll reach Myeongnyang tomorrow morning.

We deploy with the tide, and the fleet is over 330 ships.

The captain of the vanguard is, unfortunately, someone new.

His name is Kurushima, known as the Pirate King,

and versed in similar conditions.

Fortunately, backing him up is General Wakizaka,

whom you defeated in Hansan.

I hope you find some comfort in this.

I will join you once I fulfill my duty.

Let's go to Usuyeong.

Sir?

We cannot fight with the strait behind us.

We must move our men now!

A message from General Konishi.

He's pressing me.

We will reach the king before him.

We're ready for deployment.

Joseon looks particularly savory today.

I like this land.

Captain.

Status.

All prepared, sir.

There are only POWs below deck,

and we've stockpiled the gunpowder.

Yi Sun-shin

will not survive this.

To war!

Admiral.

At the risk of my own life, I'd like to speak my mind.

Sir, this battle is futile!

It's futile!

Even if we lure the enemy into the narrow strait,

we cannot face them without a single turtle ship!

Save this battle for another day! Please!

-Please! -Please!

Is that how you really feel?

Please take my life, if you believe otherwise.

I'd rather die by your sword!

If that is how you feel, very well.

Gather all the men in front of the camp.

Yes, sir!

Yes, sir!

Captains Kim Dol-son and Hwang Bo-man, have you brought it?

Yes, admiral!

Pour it!

CAPTAIN HWANG BO-MAN, CAPTAIN KIM DOL-SON

What are you waiting for?

-Pour it! -Yes, sir!

-Light it! -Sir!

Admiral Yi!

Stand back!

It's shameful that you still only consider your own lives!

Death,

is unavoidable!

Is avoiding combat the path to survival?

Will we be safe on land?

Behold!

I am burning this land so that I can die at sea!

This is where we stand and fight!

Do not hold onto your life!

If you crave life, you will surely die.

If you fight to the death, you will live!

One man at the strategic point can fend off a thousand men!

Those words were spoken to describe our situation now!

Is this Captain Bae Hong-suk's son?

Yes, sir.

He brought Junsa's message instead of our scout.

Junsa encountered him by chance and helped him escape.

This was your father's.

Will you accept it?

What is your name?

Bae Su-bong, sir.

With your father by my side,

we fought for 6 years.

I will not forget your father and your names.

I… I have a request, sir.

Go on.

Please allow me to board your ship and fight for you!

Only if you'll take an oar rather than a sword.

Thank you!

Thank you!

USUYEONG HARBOR

Mother…

I must be off now.

My only wish is that our death will not be in vain.

-Admiral. -Good work.

We offer you our assistance.

It is greatly appreciated.

Admiral!

Junsa, thank you.

Full deployment.

Full deployment!

Let's go to war!

Deploy!

Deploy!

MYEONGNYANG STRAIT 8 A.M., REVERSE CURRENT

Battle formation.

CAPTAIN AHN WEI'S SHIP

The current's pushing us back! Row harder!

Drum louder!

Load the cannons!

We must hold our position!

Row harder!

Get rid of it.

-Look! -What is that?

What's that black mass?

Our fleet is retreating!

Close the lid!

Su-bong, I think we boarded the wrong ship.

Didn't know it was the flagship?

But why must the flagship be at the front?

I'll order our fleet to remain in formation!

Let them be.

Sir? But admiral...

Lower the anchor and prepare for battle.

Lower the anchor!

Why isn't Yi raising his command flag?

Just look at them.

Even if he did, would his men follow him?

Vanguard 1, advance.

Vanguard 1!

Advance!

Rotate starboard and prepare the cannons.

Prepare the cannons!

Starboard oars, stop!

Port oars, row faster!

Lieutenant Nah Dae-yong!

Lieutenant Song Hui-rip!

Aim all cannons and explosive arrows at their vanguard ships!

Yes sir!

Aim the cannons at the vanguard!

Archers, battle station!

Aim!

Prepare to fire!

Ready!

Fire!

The current is picking up. Steer carefully!

Ready to fire!

-Fire! -Fire!

Now!

Increase speed and rotate to port!

Fire!

Watch out!

Fire!

Yi is concentrating attack on the front line.

Vanguard ships are colliding with one another.

Yi's holding his position.

Could he be waiting for something?

Shouldn't we join the assault and reinforce the front?

No...

Wait a little longer.

Fear does not discriminate, it can equally affect our enemy.

Six years of defeat have planted fear in their men, too.

Fear does not discriminate...

Is that all?

Is that how we use fear?

If only we can turn fear into courage.

Send in vanguard 2, and press harder.

Vanguard 2! Advance!

Kurushima keeps sending in ships.

He's very skilled in handling strong tides.

Let's wait and see.

Just watch.

The current is on our side.

We will demolish them.

Admiral! Due to the current, our accuracy has gone down!

Cut the anchor loose.

Ride the current towards Blood Isle.

Right away!

They're trapped!

Fire!

Get the poles!

Port oars, row harder!

We mustn't hit the rocks!

Sir! We must alert our fleet!

We won't last long in our current position!

Switch to shrapnel shells.

And prepare for close combat!

Get ready!

For close combat!

Charge!

Now!

Fire!

Board!

Kurushima is about to win the battle!

Yi held his ground long enough.

We're all going to die!

Admiral!

Admiral!

Gather all cannons

to the port oar of the ship.

Can you do it?

But we could all die...

Just get it done!

Yes, sir! It will be done!

Hold your ground!

Place cannons on the port oar opening!

What are you waiting for! Get the shells!

It's too dangerous. Don't do it!

Hurry up!

Gather the shells and gunpowder!

On the double!

Admiral!

We're ready!

Brace yourselves!

-Brace yourselves! -Hit the deck!

Is that how we use fear?

If only we can turn fear into courage...

It will inspire even more courage.

But father...

How can we possibly inspire such courage in our men?

I must be sacrificed.

Could this be the end?

Look!

-The flagship survived! -It's still standing!

The flagship survived!

Destroy the enemy!

Sons of bitches!

I'll kill them all!

I want to kill too!

GENERAL KIM EUNG-HAM

CAPTAIN AHN WEI

Full speed ahead!

Full speed ahead!

STRAIT CHOKEPOINT 2 P.M., FAIR CURRENT

Whirlpool...

It's the whirlpool...

Yi Sun-shin...

So there was a reason why you were holding out there.

The current has changed, a large whirlpool is forming!

Thanks to that, the water near the isle is calm,

which greatly increases their accuracy.

If he holes up there, no one can pass the strait.

And the battle will be over.

Maximum speed to the flagship, before he gets in formation!

Sir, that's their main fleet.

-Raise the flag. -Yes, sir.

You're mine!

Admiral!

Captain Ahn Wei!

You must be disciplined under strict martial law,

but as we're at war, I command you to fight to the death.

Defend Blood Isle with your life!

Understood?

Yes, admiral!

We must reach the center of the strait quickly!

Yes, admiral!

To the center of the strait!

Impeccable timing, sir.

The explosion will be massive.

We won't fall for Yi's decoy.

Our main fleet will continue towards the isle.

Sir!

A straw-covered ship is approaching!

-Archers in formation! -Yes, sir!

Fire!

We're sitting ducks! Haul out the water!

Hurry!

We're out of shells on the deck!

It severed my chain!

Grab his sword!

Lim Jun-young?

Junsa!

It's carrying gunpowder?

Admiral, that vessel is carrying gunpowder.

Our scout Lim is onboard.

No response from Kim Eung-ham's ship?

Load the cannons immediately!

Sir, there's no answer!

Wave something and make them fire at me!

This ship...

mustn't reach the admiral.

You must!

Good...

That's it...

Let's all signal! Everyone, hurry!

General!

Over there!

A straw ship is heading for the flagship!

-Get ready to fire! -Yes, sir!

Ready!

Fire!

Good work.

So happy to see you,

one last time...

Admiral!

Their vanguard flagship is heading for us!

The enemy's coming!

Grab your oars!

Finish him off!

Close combat!

Board their ship!

Kuroda!

-Hurry! -Should we reinforce?

We're shorthanded!

Let's reinforce our men on the deck!

Su-bong! Su-bong!

Yi Sun-shin! You're mine!

Admiral! Our ships have come to our aid!

CAPTAIN SONG YEO-JONG

CAPTAIN JUNG EUNG-DU

Kimura!

Catch up to them!

We've lost control…

Load!

Fire!

You must request reinforcements!

There is none.

We're on our own!

Shouldn't we reinforce them?

Yi Sun-shin!

Are you…

a spy or a traitor?

Yi Sun-shin!

Sir.

I'm afraid our ship is failing…

Admiral! We'll pull you out!

Admiral!

Our fleet is coming!

We must destroy them before they get into formation!

Why aren't we going faster!

But the tide has turned...

I know that!

Whip the rowers to row faster!

Speed! I need speed!

That's our only chance!

Full speed!

Don't let go of the oars!

Hang in there!

When will this end, dammit!

We're free!

Admiral!

Here is my order!

It can't be...

Brace for impact!

They're coming in hard!

No!

Please, hold on a bit longer!

They broke the front line!

Risen from the dead!

Rebirth of the turtle ship!

It has returned!

Was that

a part of his plan all along?

They're fleeing! Look at them!

Fire!

Yi Sun-shin...

Retreat!

Turn the ship around.

The tide has again turned in our favor.

23 enemy soldier bodies!

17 enemy soldier bodies!

Three generals and nine enemy soldier bodies!

Invade all they want, they can't do shit on our watch!

-Have some. -My mouth is already full.

I looked one in the eye and he pissed his pants!

I'm just that amazing.

Will our descendants even know how hard we fought?

Every damn minute!

You speak the truth!

We're still breathing. It's time to go back home!

You said it!

Here, have a drink!

Isn't this taro?

It feels good to eat.

-Admiral! -Admiral!

Admiral!

How can we ease...

their suffering...

JULY, 1592

HANSAN, SOUTHERN SEA

There...

What is that?

ROARING CURRENTS

CHOI MIN-SIK

RYU SEUNG-RYONG

CHO JIN-WOONG

KIM MYEONG-GON, JIN GOO, LEE JEONG-HYUN

WRITTEN BY JEON CHUL-HONG, KIM HAN-MIN

DIRECTED BY KIM HAN-MIN