Gyeonggi Fire Department to Host 'Wanyong Pump' Manual Fire Suppression Equipment Competition in November

Records of the Introduction of Firearms in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty

The Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters has developed a wooden water gun assembly kit to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the introduction of the 'sujonggi (水銃器)' and will use it for children's fire science education.

The sujonggi is a manually operated fire extinguishing device powered by a person's arm, also known as a hand pump.

The Fire and Disaster Headquarters previously produced and distributed 1,000 wooden assembly kits that explain the operating principle of fire pumps, and plans to hold the 'Gyeonggi-do Children's Fire Science Competition' this November.

Additionally, a miniature fire extinguishing display using the sujonggi kit will be created along with a display case and placed in the 'Gyeonggi Fire History Archive,' which opens on the 6th of this month.

The Fire and Disaster Headquarters explained that the kit was developed to teach children the spirit of ancestors who strived for scientific fire extinguishing and to educate them on the structural principles of fire pumps.

Jo Seon-ho, head of the Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters, stated, "Korean firefighting, which is promoting the K-Firefighting industry by exporting domestically produced firefighting equipment, needs to establish a solid foundation in the history of scientific development. We will additionally develop firefighting equipment kits that can stimulate children's scientific curiosity and widely utilize them as experiential programs at the National Fire Museum, scheduled to open in Gwangmyeong City in 2026."

The Fire and Disaster Headquarters has installed the Gyeonggi Fire History Archive at the Gyeonggi-do National Safety Experience Center located in Osan and is achieving various results in discovering and preserving firefighting history, including promoting the cultural heritage registration of the Namyangju Wabu Fire Brigade hand pump (manufactured in 1910), the oldest firefighting equipment in Korea.