Pinocchio was carved from wood by the kind carpenter Geppetto, who gave him his name. With the help of a fairy, Pinocchio is able to speak and act like a human. During a cold winter, Geppetto even sells his own clothes to send him to school, yet Pinocchio is lured away by a circus and swept into all kinds of adventures. After a reckless life, he even ends up inside the belly of a giant whale, but through Geppetto’s devoted love he is rescued and eventually becomes a real boy. This moral tale, where lying makes Pinocchio’s nose grow long, has been parodied in countless ways, often bringing laughter while reminding us of its timeless lesson.
Admiral Yi Sun-sin, known posthumously as Chungmugong, is celebrated as a national hero who saved Korea from the brink of collapse during the Japanese invasions of the Imjin War. This conflict was an international war in which Joseon and Ming China allied to repel Japan’s invasions. Beginning in the 25th year of King Seonjo’s reign (1592), Japan launched two major invasions of Joseon, the first breaking out in the year of Imjin, hence the name Imjin War . Admiral Yi personally commanded every battle he fought, achieving an unprecedented record of consecutive victories unmatched in world naval history. His strategies are so renowned that they continue to be studied in naval academies in the United States, Britain, Japan, and beyond. So closely linked are Admiral Yi and the turtle ship ( geobukseon ) that one is often invoked in reference to the other. Even today, a turtle ship is displayed near the statue of Admiral Yi at Gwanghwamun in Seoul. Japanese soldiers once called it mekura bu...
