Filem The Admiral berkisar pada 1597 Pertempuran Myeongryang semasa pencerobohan Jepun di Korea (1592-1598), di mana lagenda Joseon Laksamana Yi Sun-sin berjaya memusnahkan sejumlah 133 kapal perang Jepun dengan hanya 13 kapal yang masih tersisa dibawah perintahnya. Pertempuran yang tercetus di Myeongryang Selat di luar pantai barat daya Semenanjung Korea, dianggap sebagai salah satu kemenangan besar Laksamana Yi Sun-sin.



The film mainly follows the famous 1597 Battle of Myeongryang during the Japanese invasion of Korea (1592-1598), where the iconic Joseon admiral Yi Sun-sin managed to destroy a total of 133 Japanese warships with only 13 ships remaining in his command. The battle, which took place in the Myeongryang Strait off the southwest coast of the Korean Peninsula, is considered one of the greatest victories of Yi.