Korean Shipbuilding - Early History
Koreans have had active maritime activities and have been good at making vessels for the simple fact that Korea is a peninsula bordering seas on three sides. A wooden log boat, estimated to have been built in the early Neolithic era about 8,000 years ago, was discovered in Korea. On 05 September 2005, Gimhae National Museum's excavation and investigation team announced that it had found the log boat in a lower layer under the ruins of Bibong-ri, Bugok-myeon, Changnyeong-gun, Gyeonsangnam-do, about 2 kilometers north of the Nakdong River. The old boats previously excavated in Korea include a log boat at Anapji Pond of the Unified Shilla Kingdom (Gyeongju City, 8th century); one in the sea off Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do (Koryo Dynasty, 11th century); one at Sibidongpado, Gunsan City, Jeollabuk-do; one in the offshore of Anjwado, Shinan-gun, Jeollanam-do; and one on Dalido, Mokpo, Jeollanam-do. However, all of these were built since the Unified Shilla era.
If the chronological age of the log boat is confirmed as 6000 BC, it would predate Japan's oldest boat, 'Torihama No. 1.' and another excavated from Ikiriki ruins by more than 2,000 years. Furthermore, the possibility is being cautiously raised that the log boat might be the oldest found so far in the world, as its estimated age is earlier than an old ship (estimated at about 6,000 years) found near the pyramid of Egyptian King Khufu in 1954 and a wrecked ship (estimated at about 3,300 years) excavated from the seabed off Turkey's Cape Gelidonya.
Korea has had excellent navy generals till date such as Jangbogo of the Silla kingdom, Choi-mu-son of Korea dynasty, and general Lee-sun-shin of the Chosun dynasty. And Choi-mun-sun of Korea dynasty built a sturdy warship when Korea was going on an expedition to Japan with the help of One dynasty, general Lee-sun-shin built the "turtle ship" which was impressive against the Japanese. Such traditions have come alive and now Korea is the number one in shipbuilding in the world.
The main reason for Admiral Yi's unparalleled successes on the sea was the possession of a peculiar war-vessel of his own invention and construction. It was called the Kwi-sun, or 'tortoise-boat,' from its resemblance to that animal. There is no doubt that the tortoise furnished the model for the boat. Its greatest peculiarity was a curved deck of iron plates like the back of a tortoise which completely sheltered the fighters and rowers beneath. In front was a hideous dragon's head, erect, with wide open mouth, through which arrows and other missiles could be discharged. There was another opening in the rear, and six on either side for the same purpose. On top of the curved deck there was a narrow walk from stem to stern, and another across the middle from side to side, but every other part of the back bristled with iron spikes so that an enemy who should endeavour to board her would find himself immediately impaled upon a score of spear-heads. This deck, being of iron, rendered the snip impervious to fire arrows, and so the occupants could go into action with as much security as one of our modern battle-ships could go into engagement with the wooden war-vessels of a century ago. In addition to this, she was built for speed, and could easily overtake anything afloat. This made her doubly formidable, for even flight could not avail the enemy. She usually did more execution after the fight commenced than before, for she could overtake and ram them one by one probably' better than. she could handle them when drawn up in line of battle. But no book says that iron plates were used in its construction. As a matter of fact, Japanese war-ships of the time were covered with iron plates at some points.
In the late 19th century, Korea's national strength was at its lowest and Chung dynasty and Russia made the situation worse by intervening in the internal affairs. In addition to that, it was the time in which Japanese were making ambitious plans to invade the Korean peninsula after the Meiji restoration, which resulted in Japan becoming highly civilized.
Japanese ship builders started coming into Korea in the late 19th century and around the time of the Japanese annexation of Korea in 1910, there were many of them in the main ports such as Busan, Incheon, Chungjin, Mokpo, Jinnampo, choongmu, wonsan etc. The first Japanese ship builder who came into Korea (in the year 1887, King Gojong's 24th year), founded Tanaka iron processing factory for shipbuilding. At present, the factory is no more and there stands an elementary school, which is in 2nd street, Nam-Hang-Dong, Yound-Do-Gu, Busan. Although it was a shipbuilding yard for wooden ships founded by a foreigner, it was an important milestone for Korea as far as shipbuilding is concerned.
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