---
title: "Civilization VII: Yi Sun-sin, Goryeo and Joseon are worth watching"
description: "Civilization VII could expand Brush & Blade with Yi Sun-sin, Goryeo and Joseon. The real question is whether Korea makes naval play matter."
url: https://after-strategy.com/en/civilization-7-brush-blade-phase-2-yi-sun-sin-goryeo-joseon-korea-2026/
lang: en
published: 2026-07-02
author: "Simon Dougnac"
author_url: https://after-strategy.com/en/auteur/simon/
game: "Civilization 7"
game_url: https://after-strategy.com/en/jeux/civilization-7/
categories: [4x, tour-par-tour]
tags: [civilization-vii, civilization-7, civ7, firaxis, dlc, yi-sun-sin, goryeo, joseon, brush-blade]
translations:
fr: https://after-strategy.com/fr/civilization-7-brush-blade-phase-2-yi-sun-sin-goryeo-joseon-2026/
es: https://after-strategy.com/es/civilization-7-brush-blade-fase-2-yi-sun-sin-corea-goryeo-joseon-2026/
publisher: "After Strategy"
---
# Civilization VII: Yi Sun-sin, Goryeo and Joseon are worth watching
> Civilization VII could expand Brush & Blade with Yi Sun-sin, Goryeo and Joseon. The real question is whether Korea makes naval play matter.
## Korea is the hook, but naval pressure is the real test
The draft for **Brush & Blade** Phase 2 puts Korea at the center of *[Civilization VII](https://after-strategy.com/en/jeux/civilization-7/)* with **Yi Sun-sin**, **Goryeo** and **Joseon**. The historical pitch is strong. For players, though, the useful question is more practical: can Firaxis make control of the sea matter enough to change how a campaign is played?
This leader choice is not neutral. Yi Sun-sin is tied to Joseon's naval defense during the Imjin War, and that gives Firaxis a clear design path. If the leader becomes a bundle of generic defensive numbers, the addition will feel decorative. If he pushes players to protect coasts, control straits and defend trade routes, the Korean phase could be more interesting than a simple historical pack.
### Yi Sun-sin needs more than historical prestige
The risk with famous leaders is obvious: prestige can hide thin mechanics. Yi Sun-sin is remembered for naval victories, but a naval leader only matters in a 4X if the map, objectives and economy give players a reason to build and protect a fleet.
That is the first thing to watch when the content is detailed. Do his bonuses create a real maritime plan, or merely reward a defensive posture that players would have used anyway? Civilization VII already leans heavily on age transitions and civilization choices. A leader like Yi Sun-sin becomes valuable if the sea turns into a pressure lane, not just a border around the map.
### Goryeo and Joseon could support two Korean rhythms
The other promising part is the **Goryeo / Joseon** pairing. Goryeo points toward medieval Korea, Buddhist culture, celadon, the Tripitaka Koreana and repeated defensive pressure against invasions. In Civilization VII terms, that identity could support culture, resilience and knowledge production.
Joseon suggests a different tempo: Confucian administration, long-term stability, territorial defense and political continuity. If Firaxis makes those two profiles distinct, Korea will not feel like a single label attached to two eras. It could become a useful transition between cultural growth and defensive consolidation.
### The wonders also need a job
The draft mentions **Mireuksa** and **Seongsan Ilchulbong**. Both names fit the cultural frame: a major Buddhist temple on one side, a volcanic Jeju landmark on the other. Their real value will depend on what they ask the player to give up.
A good Civilization VII wonder is not just visual reward. It creates a tradeoff: invest early, delay expansion, secure a bonus before a rival, or accept that another empire will define that part of the map. If these wonders only add predictable culture or faith numbers, their effect will be limited.
### What needs confirmation
This draft should stay careful until Firaxis publishes the final details. The exact bonuses, price and release timing still need direct confirmation before publication.
The useful test is concrete. Do Goryeo and Joseon change age transitions? Does Yi Sun-sin make coastal maps more tense? Does Brush & Blade give players a reason to treat the sea as an active front? If yes, Korea can become a meaningful Civilization VII addition. If not, it will mostly be an attractive historical chapter.
## Sources to verify before publication
- [Steam - Sid Meier's Civilization VII](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1295660/Sid_Meiers_Civilization_VII/)
- [Official site - Civilization VII](https://civilization.2k.com/civ-vii/)
## See also
- [Civilization VII 1.4.1: Hotseat Multiplayer, Government Overhaul, and the Brush & Blade Japan DLC](https://after-strategy.com/en/civilization-vii-update-141-brush-blade-japan-2026/)
- [Civilization VII tier list 2026: which leaders and civilizations are the best?](https://after-strategy.com/en/civilization-vii-tier-list-best-leaders-civs-2026/)
- [Civilization VII Test of Time: Free Update on May 19 Reshapes the Game](https://after-strategy.com/en/civilization-vii-test-of-time-free-update-may-19-2026/)
- [All 4X games](https://after-strategy.com/en/categorie/4x/)
## Sources
-
-
Source : [Civilization VII: Yi Sun-sin, Goryeo and Joseon are worth watching](https://after-strategy.com/en/civilization-7-brush-blade-phase-2-yi-sun-sin-goryeo-joseon-korea-2026/) — After Strategy