Naval history of Korea

Timeline  Korea portal

The naval history of Korea dates back thousands of years since the prehistoric times

defeated the advancing Japanese fleets.

Today, South Korea is the world's largest shipbuilding nation

Three Kingdoms of Korea period

Ships were developed and used since the Three Kingdoms of Korea period. Because of the abundance of coastal waters surrounding the Korean peninsula, Koreans developed simple fishing ships to take advantage of the resources.

.

North-South States period

After the defeat of

Silla, like previous Korean kingdoms, maintained powerful control over its trade routes and oceanic territory as Japanese and Chinese pirates began to harass trade routes over sea. From 828 to 846, however, a Silla merchant named Jang Bogo, rose to prominence and gathered a navy to repel pirates and control Korean trade routes. Jang eventually became a maritime commissioner on Wando Island.

With stable control over maritime rights, Silla prospered in the peace of its rule. However, internal strife weakened it and after wars during the Later Three Kingdoms period, fell the Goryeo in 935.

Goryeo Dynasty period

Korean shipbuilding again excelled during the

This ships was designed to ram and destroy Japanese pirate vessels, who were attacking coastal Korean cities. Goryeo ships were both large and strong in terms of size and durability and the largest could carry 200 or more fighting marines.

Yi Seonggye

.

Joseon Dynasty period

Imjin war

.

During the

ideals, the Korean navy along with the rest of the Korean military weakened steadily.

However, in 1419,

raids on Korean coastal cities. Yi took 227 Korean ships and about 17,000 soldiers landed and attacked Japanese settlements on Tsushima Island, destroying crops, killing Japanese islanders and pirates, and plundering ships. The So clan, the ruling seat of Japan, surrendered and requested to pay tributes. Korea allowed the So clan to be able to trade with Korean coastal harbors under the condition that Japanese pirates be suppressed.

Korea eventually developed strong wooden ships called

upon an older design.

By the end of 19th century, the Joseon Navy had no significant naval force[7] other than coast defense fortresses. Although there was an attempt to modernize the navy by establishing a royal naval school, the Joseon Navy was brought to an end in 1895. In 1903, the government of the Korean Empire purchased its first modern war ship, the Yangmu.^[8] Korean naval tradition was disrupted after Korea was annexed by the Empire of Japan in 1910.

During the

).

Modern Korean navies

The modern

.

The

is used to defend the waters of North Korea. However, not much is known about the North Korean navy and what equipment is used.

References

See also

• Republic of Korea Navy
• Military history of Korea