About us

1. Background of the Establishment

Founder Naewon Lee graduated from the College of Education at Seoul National University in 1962 and immigrated to the United States in 1975.

In 1998, while living in Annandale, Virginia, he happened to visit a local bookstore and came across the seven-volume 'Imjin War' series by author Kim Sung-han. The encounter left a profound impression on him.

Unlike the glorified and heroic depiction of the war he remembered from his high school textbook 'The Hero Yi Sun-sin' by Lee Eun-sang, this series portrayed the Imjin War as a brutal and tragic battlefield drenched in blood and death under the cruel invasion of Japanese forces.

This revelation led Mr. Lee to begin collecting and thoroughly studying related references from both Korea and abroad. By 2002, he began contributing newspaper articles in an effort to promote a more accurate understanding of the Imjin War.

In 2004, in collaboration with the Washington Literary Association, Naewon Lee launched an annual essay contest focused on Admiral Yi Sun-sin for both adults and students in the Washington, D.C. area.

As Mr. Lee was later appointed chairman of approximately 70 Korean schools in the Washington region, the Yi Sun-sin essay contest gradually expanded, even reaching some schools in California.

3. Official Incorporation

On January 23, 2015, the Yi Sun-sin America Institute was officially registered as a legal entity with the Commonwealth of Virginia, State Corporation Commission.

The designated address is 2007 Pieris Ct., Vienna, VA 22182

On May 2, 2016, the organization received its IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN): 81-2470622.

5. Federal Tax-Exempt Status

On May 30, 2017, the organization was granted Federal Income Tax Exemption under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3).

6. Expansion as the Yi Sun-sin U.S. Education Center

Following its formal establishment in 2017, the Yi Sun-sin U.S. Education Center expanded its educational efforts globally.

In collaboration with overseas Korean schools, it organized six summer essay camps focused on Admiral Yi in historical locations along Korea’s southern coast, including Yeosu, Namhae, and Busan — all significant sites from Yi Sun-sin’s legacy.

7. Turtle Ship Debut in the U.S. Independence Day Parade

On July 4, 2022, during the Washington Independence Day Parade hosted by the Washington Park Authority, a full-scale 27-foot replica of Admiral Yi’s famous turtle ship was showcased, drawing attention from people around the world.

Since the parade, as of the end of March 2025, this life-size turtle ship has been rotating on exhibit at two large churches in Virginia and six in Maryland.

It serves as an educational display for students of church-affiliated Korean schools, church members, and local residents, offering a unique glimpse into Korean history while also supporting Korean American community events.