Eo Yeong-dam

Ŏ Yŏngdam (; 1532 – April 9, 1594) was a Korean military official of the mid-Joseon Period who served as a magistrate of Gwangyang, Jeolla Province. He was a general under Admiral Yi Sun-sin during the Imjin war. He was known for his knowledge of waterways and built great achievements in Geoje, Okpo, and Danghangpo naval battles.

Life Ŏ Yŏngdam was born in 1532. His hometown is unknown, but he is said to have lived in Haman County, Gyeongsang Province. He excelled in martial arts and resourcefulness and was specially recruited as a subarea commander of Yeodo at an early age. In 1564, he passed a military examination as a third person among third-tier passers. He examined sea routes in detail, allowing the entry and exit of ships. In May 1592, he led Yi Sun-sin's waterway as a magistrate of Gwangyang. When preparing for the provisions, He stored separately seeds of crops and crops for people's first aid. In February 1593, while he was participating in the Battle of Ungcheon and thus was not in Gwangyang, Im Bal-yeong, the secret royal inspector of transportation , misunderstood the food stored separately and asked for his dismissal. Yi Sun-sin and the people of Gwangyang launched a campaign to publicize his innocence but were eventually dismissed. Later, Yi Sun-sin raised his ambition to appoint him as an Assistant Defense Commandant again and received permission from the court.

On April 9, 1594, he died of an infectious disease in Hansando.