Song Sanghyeon

Song Sang-hyeon (1551–1592) was a civil official of the mid-Joseon period who served as the magistrate of Dongnae and defended its fortress at the outset of the Imjin War (Japanese invasions of Korea). When the invading forces demanded passage toward China, he refused with the words, "It is easy to fight and die, but hard to grant passage," and after the fortress fell he was killed for refusing to surrender. His death came to symbolize the resolute resistance of the Korean people in the early days of the war, and he was later honored with the posthumous title Chungnyeol ("Loyal and Ardent").