CHINHAE, Republic of Korea -- Sailors and family members from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea (CNFK) visited the Republic of Korea Naval Academy (ROKNA) in Jinhae as part of a ROK Navy hosted culture and heritage tour.
The one-day tour consisted of a visit to the academy museum, a 16th century warship called a Geobukseon, or Turtle Ship, designed and used by ROK Adm. Yi, Sun-shin, and Historic Park of Geoje Island Prisoner of War Camp.
“This tour was an excellent opportunity to witness first-hand the history and spirit of the Korean people," said Cmdr. Adam Johnson, a CNFK assistant chief of staff. "From the ROK Naval Academy to the legacy of Admiral Yi, Sun-shin, I was impressed by their generosity in sharing their history with us, and as a history buff, I enjoyed getting to walk the main deck of the Turtle Ship."
The ROKNA museum opened on January 17, 1976, on the 30th anniversary of the academy. When it first opened, the museum consisted of just one small exhibition room, but a life sized Turtle Ship was later added to allow visitors to experience the type of warship used during the Joseon Dynasty.
“It was my first time going to the academy and seeing all of the memorabilia,” said Kim, Tai Soo, the father and guest of one of the ROK Navy service members. “I loved hearing about Adm. Yi's battles and I'm proud that his statue is here at the academy.”
The tour concluded with a visit to Historic Park of Geoje Prisoner of War (POW) Camp. The camp, located on Geoje Island in the South Gyeongsang Province, was founded in 1951 during the Korean War and once housed 170,000 prisoners until the armistice was signed in 1953. The camp was designated a cultural asset in 1983 had turned into a historic park in 1997.