The Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin stands in Gwanghwamun Plaza on Sejongno in Seoul, about 250 meters from the statue of King Sejong. President Park Chung Hee asked for it, and a committee led by Kim Jong-pil established it. It was erected on April 27, 1968. The sculptor was Kim Se-jung.
The bronze figure is 21 feet (6.5 meters) tall on a 34 feet (10.5 meters) pillar, so the whole stands 56 feet (17 meters). At its unveiling it was the tallest standing statue in Asia. The armored admiral holds a sword in his right hand. A miniature turtle ship sits nearby.
The statue was removed for about 40 days in late 2010 for restoration. A 200-ton crane lifted it, and it was sandblasted, repainted and reinforced in Icheon. It was unveiled again on December 23, 2010. A small museum lies beneath it.
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