Ignoring history is always a risky proposition. The story of a brilliant Korean admiral, who deserves more attention in the west, provides an apt metaphor for the Internet of Things (IoT), an emerging concept at the top of high-tech companies’ strategic agenda, about interconnecting anything, anywhere, any time.
No longer western-centric, successful game-changing ICT is being conceived and implemented around the world at a fast pace. Korea, home of innovation-driven chaebols such as Samsung, LG and Hyundai, is unsurprisingly one of those innovative cradles in IoT technological development.
In July 1588, off the coast of Gravelines, in northern France, , Spain's famous "Invincible Armada" was defeated by the English navy under the command of Lord Charles Howard and Sir Francis Drake. This victory thwarted the invasion of England, and is heralded as a major milestone in the history of England, and to a large extent, the western world. Nine years later, in perhaps the most astonishing maritime victory of all time, Korean naval commander Yi Sun-shin defeated a fleet of 333 Japanese ships with just 13 of his own at the Battle of Myeongnyang, off the southwest corner of South Korea.
While the English naval mastery and superior strategic and tactical maneuvers in pushing back the Spanish Armada have been amply documented, Admiral Yi’s unrivaled contemporary achievements are not as well-known in the west as those of other great naval military leaders.
By most measures, Yi’s accomplishments were spectacular, and yet did not receive the recognition they rightly deserve beyond Korea and neighboring countries. The “immortal Korean hero” is remembered not only for his strategic genius but also his efficient development and use of Geobukseons (turtle ships), a technological breakthrough in the naval warfare, which gave Korea the edge it needed to overcome daunting odds.
So much could have been learned from Yi at the time. Japanese admiral Togo reportedly claimed that next to him he “was only a petty officer.” In the 21st century, information travels at lightning speed; and it would be exceedingly negligent to overlook technological breakthroughs that have been born in far-away places. Many centuries later, Korea is again demonstrating inventiveness and know-how in the very promising IoT space.