114-Year-Old 'Mokje Su총기' First Registered Cultural Asset in Gyeonggi-do

The oldest and only wooden fire pump in Korea has been registered as Gyeonggi-do Registered Cultural Property No. 22.

On the 7th, the Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters announced that the ‘Namyangju Wabu Fire Brigade Wooden Fire Pump,’ exhibited at the Gyeonggi-do National Safety Experience Center Fire History Archive, was registered as a Gyeonggi-do Registered Cultural Property on the 6th, marking the first time a firefighting-related artifact has been registered.

The fire pump is a manual fire suppression device operated by a person’s arm, known as a ‘wan-yong pump.’ It can be considered the predecessor of modern fire trucks.

In Korea, it was first brought from the Qing Dynasty in 1723 (the 3rd year of King Gyeongjong) by Heo Won, a representative mid-Joseon Dynasty scientist from the Gwansanggam.

The Namyangju Wabu Fire Brigade Wooden Fire Pump is the oldest existing mechanical firefighting equipment in Korea, with a history of 114 years.

It is the only model in Korea of modern firefighting equipment whose main structural parts are made of wood.

114-Year-Old Wooden Fire Hose Nozzle of Wabu Fire Brigade

Manufactured in April 1910 (the 4th year of Yunghui) during the Korean Empire period, it was used by the Dokdo Fire Squad (Ttukseom Fire Brigade) before being transferred to the Wabu Fire Squad in Yangju, Gyeonggi-do, where it was used for several decades before being retired and stored in a warehouse.

This fire pump, which almost disappeared into history, was brought back to light once again when the provincial Fire and Disaster Headquarters promoted an artifact excavation project.

In June of last year, the provincial Fire and Disaster Headquarters moved the fire pump, which had been stored in the warehouse of the Wabu Volunteer Fire Brigade in Namyangju City, to the Osan National Safety Experience Center for exhibition.

Jo Seon-ho, head of the provincial Fire and Disaster Headquarters, said, "It has been over 300 years since Heo Won introduced the fire pump to Korea, and now the wooden fire pump of Gyeonggi Fire has been recognized for its cultural value, boosting the pride of all firefighters. We will continue to promote artifact excavation and cultural property registration projects to pass on the spirit of our ancestors to future generations."

Meanwhile, the provincial Fire and Disaster Headquarters is promoting the ‘Anyang Fire Station Watchtower,’ the only one remaining among fire stations nationwide, as the second cultural property of Gyeonggi Fire. They also plan to establish preservation measures for the old Suwon Fire Station building (currently Maesan 119 Safety Center), the oldest fire station in Korea.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.