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. ==Notes==