The two patronage systems created opposing incentives. A Royal Navy patron wanted followers to succeed because their achievements reflected well on the senior officer and strengthened the patron's own prospects. Joseon's factional politics often reversed that incentive: a successful junior could become a threat and therefore had to be restrained or removed. Yi Sun-sin's repeated punishment becomes an institutional example of how bad incentives can waste scarce professional talent during war.
Notable Point · 2:15:44-2:16:35
Patronage can reward or suppress capable officers
A comparison with Royal Navy patronage shows how promotion incentives can either cultivate talented subordinates or make senior leaders fear them as rivals.