Warships on the Han River: Part 2

The frigate Seoul (FF952) is on display at Battleship Park in western Seoul's Mangwon-dong, April 2019. Robert Neff Collection

By Robert Neff

Following the French-Korean conflict known as "Byeonginyangyo" in 1866, Heungseon Daewongun, the Joseon regent, became painfully aware of the need to strengthen and modernize the country's own navy in order to fend off foreign intrusions and maintain its self-imposed isolation. He needed his own "vessels moved by fire."

In 1867, an immense but innovative project began at the small naval base at Yanghwajin using technology allegedly obtained from the General Sherman ― an ill-fated American merchant vessel that had dared to sail up the Taedong River the previous year. Unlike the French warships, the General Sherman never left Korea ― or did it?

It has been suggested that the General Sherman was towed from Pyongyang to Yanghwajin where Kim Gi-du, a weapon and ship designer, was able to use it as a guide for the construction of three modern steam-driven warships.

However, it seems more probable that the General Sherman's steam engine (or part of it) was salvaged and brought to Seoul which allowed Kim Gi-du to do some reverse engineering. It was an expensive effort; siphoning much money from the already-dwindling state coffers and using up the entire copper and iron stocks in the armory. His first attempt was dismal.

A stamp issued by North Korea in 1964 depicting the destruction of the General Sherman. Robert Neff Collection

The ship was too big and heavy so Kim took drastic measures to try lightening the weight and save his own head. Soldiers and hunters were sent out along the river ― presumably the marshes around Nodeul (near Dongjak) ― to shoot cranes and other large birds for their feathers. These feathers were then glued to the hull of the ship in the belief they would make it more buoyant. The experiment was not a success; one report blamed the failure on the glue melting which allowed the feathers to float away.

According to Horace H. Underwood in the late 1920s or early 1930s, he heard the above account ― or a similar one ― from I. P. Cheung, one of the professors of the Chosen Christian College who claimed to be related to Kim or one of his colleagues.

Undaunted by these earlier failures, Kim persevered and, in early October 1867, declared his ships were ready for a demonstration before the royal court. Heungseon Daewongun and many of his officials, along with crowds of commoners, traveled to Yanghwajin to witness this initial step towards the modernization of Joseon's navy using Western technology.

According to one contemporary account, the engine succeeded in turning the paddlewheel but it moved extremely slowly and other vessels were required to help tow the modern warship. The crowd laughed with amusement. To his credit, the Daewongun did not show his disappointment but merely turned away ― his interest in the project was gone and the ship was eventually melted down and turned into cannons.

The cramped interior of SSM-051, a Dolgorae (Dolphin) class submarine on display at Battleship Park, February 2023. Robert Neff Collection

However, the above account differs from other sources ― including Seungjeong-won Ilgi (The Daily Records of the Royal Secretariat) and Gojong Sillok (Veritable Records of Gojong) ― and implies that the witness was biased and intent on denigrating the royal court as comically inept.

These other accounts described the ship as being very strong and lightweight and as the perfect defense against the enemy. Officials responsible for its construction were praised for their efforts. We also learn that there were three ships and upon the completion of the demonstration they were assigned to the unit responsible for the pontoon bridge and ordered to be repaired.

A marker in February 2021 indicates the location of the Jugyosa Office which was responsible for the pontoon bridge and where the three steam-powered warships were temporarily located. The marker is located at the south end of Dongjak Bridge. Robert Neff Collection

The ships were not the only experimental weapons being tested that day. Sin Gwan-ho, one of the commanders responsible for the defense of Ganghwa Island during the French-Korean conflict, helped build a Korean torpedo based on Western design using a treatise obtained from China.

Like the warships, the torpedoes received mixed reviews. Some sources declared the torpedoes to be a success noting that the "water of the river rose ten times the height of a man and a boat was destroyed by the explosion." But our contemporary witness only viewed them with derision. He conceded that the torpedo destroyed a small boat ― barely ― but was skeptical of its ability to destroy a larger ship.

Apparently, the government shared his doubt and the program was abandoned.

What became of the three steam-powered warships? We don't really know. In early 1868 they were transferred to Ganghwa Island where they soon disappeared from the pages of history. They may, however, have played a part in the American-Korean Conflict in 1871, not as warships but as cannons.

Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books, including Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters.