Myeonje baegab

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{{Infobox Korean name

|hangul=면제배갑

|hanja={{linktext|綿|製|背|甲}}

|rr=Myeonje Baegap

|mr=Myŏnje Paegap

}}

Myeonje baegap (면제배갑, 綿製背甲) was a soft bulletproof vest invented during the Joseon in 1867.{{cite web|title=면제갑옷|url=http://www.cha.go.kr/korea/heritage/search/Culresult_Db_View.jsp?mc=NS_04_03_01&VdkVgwKey=79,04590000,11|website=문화재청|publisher=Cultural Heritage Administration|accessdate=27 March 2017|language=ko}}{{cite web|title=세계최초의 방탄조끼 조선군의 '면제배갑'|url=http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/science/kistiscience/191923.html|website=The Hankyoreh |accessdate=27 March 2017|language=ko|date=21 February 2007}}

It was invented following the 1866 military French expedition to Korea and used in battle during the United States expedition to Korea in 1871. It was made of between 13 and 30 folds of cotton fabric and covered the upper torso.

Background

During the French Campaign against Korea, the Joseon military, at the time using matchlocks, experienced the superiority of Western rifles. As a result, regent Heungseon Daewongun ordered the development of bulletproof armor.

The vests were distributed to soldiers after its creation, and were used in battles fought on Ganghwa Island against United States Navy and Marine forces during the 1871 United States expedition to Korea.

The US army captured one of the vests and took it to the US. The vest was stored in the Smithsonian until 2007. The vest has since been sent back to Korea and is currently on display to the public in the National Palace Museum of Korea.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ganghwado.org/zbxe/colum/13214 |title=Seoul Yonhap News Agency, 1 April 2008 |access-date=3 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213111609/http://www.ganghwado.org/zbxe/colum/13214 |archive-date=13 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}

Notes

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