One Christmas, a young girl named Marie receives a nutcracker doll as a gift from her godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer. However, her brother Fritz accidentally breaks the doll, and Marie tenderly cares for it with great devotion. From that moment on, the story unfolds with the breaking of the Mouse Queen’s curse, leading the Nutcracker—revealed to be a prince from the Land of Dolls—back to his true form. Through Marie’s sincere love, the tale concludes with the two living happily ever after.
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...
