Oldest Korean gun found during landmine search
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In November 2023, a South Korean Army unit discovered a bronze firearm while searching for landmines near Gimcheon Mountain in North Gyeongsang Province. The National Heritage Research Institute of Naju identified the object as a ‘Hwangja Hwathong’, a type of early gunpowder weapon, dating back approximately 600 years. It is currently the oldest known example of a Korean firearm.
The weapon’s body bears 28 characters detailing its creation date, weight, and the names of the supervising official and artisan.
Researchers determined the firearm was made either in 1377 or 1437, during the late Goryeo or early Joseon dynasty. The discovery is unique because it clearly identifies both the time and the people involved in its manufacture. The ‘Hwathong’ consists of a barrel, a powder chamber, and a handle socket. It weighs 1032 grams and is made of bronze with a carefully controlled tin content to ensure durability against explosions, a technique consistent with traditional Korean gunpowder weapon manufacturing.
The weapon likely functioned similarly to early ‘Samchongtong’ and ‘Sinjechongtong’ firearms. The Cultural Heritage Administration plans to exhibit the ‘Hwangja Hwathong’ at the National Palace Museum of Korea and the International Defense Exhibition Korea in December. They also intend to conduct further research to pinpoint the exact year of its creation and pursue its designation as a national treasure.
