1592

1592 was a year in the late 16th century notable for the start of the Imjin War, the Japanese invasions of Korea. In May 1592 Japanese forces landed on the Korean peninsula and advanced rapidly, soon capturing several coastal positions and moving toward the capital Hanseong (modern Seoul). The Joseon dynasty appealed for aid to the Ming dynasty, which responded with military assistance. The conflict featured a combination of large-scale land battles and a growing series of naval engagements that defined much of the year’s fighting. Admiral Yi Sun-sin began to lead Korean naval operations against the invaders, and innovated in naval tactics and ship design, contributing to several early Korean victories at sea and slowing Japanese expansion.

The events of 1592 occurred within a broader geopolitical context in East Asia, where Korea and China sought to resist Japanese expansion and where long-standing rivalries among regional powers shaped military strategy and diplomacy. The year’s campaigns had significant and lasting effects on the balance of power in the region, influencing subsequent military conduct and alliances through the remainder of the Imjin War (1592–1598).

In Europe and other parts of the world, 1592 fell within the ongoing dynamics of the late Renaissance and early modern era. Continental powers continued to contend for influence, trade routes, and religious and dynastic interests, while European exploration and colonial ventures continued to expand global interaction. The year thus reflected broader patterns of conflict, diplomacy, and transregional exchange characteristic of the period.