Lighthouse Description and History

1. Geological Characteristics of Jumunjin Lighthouse
Jumunjin Lighthouse is located in Jumunjin-eup, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do(Province), Korea. The necessity of constructing Jumunjin Lighthouse, which was not included in the original construction plans during the Korean Empire, arose as vessels began calling at Jumunjin Port and the fishing industry in the area developed in the early 1910s. In February 1916, a vessel belonging to the Joseon Yusen Corporation was shipwrecked on the southern coast, 19 nautical miles from Jumunjin. This incident led to public calls for a lighthouse, leading to the construction of the lighthouse on Jumunsan Beacon, which was previously known as Yeonbyeon Beacon during the Joseon Dynasty. The lighthouse was first lit on March 20, 1918.

2. Architectural Characteristics of Jumunjin Lighthouse
The lighthouse tower is a masonry structure designed in a cylindrical shape, with a height of 6.5 meters. The cylindrical design reduces wind and wave resistance. The upper part of the tower features harmonious combination of neat dentil and ornate pediment, emphasizing the tower’s volume. Additionally, a distinct feature, different from other lighthouses of same period, is that the base of the lower tower occupies over one-third of the first floor tower. You must climb up 15 stairs to enter the lighthouse. The iron lantern room (height 3.17m, diameter 1.7m), made by the Yokohama Navigation Aids Goods Manufacturer in Japan, was installed to protect the lantern lenses and oil lamp light source inside the upper tower. Built on March 20,1918, Jumunjin Lighthouse, located in Jumunjin, is the oldest remaining lighthouse in Gangwon Province. Its historical importance and unique exterior design give it a high conservation value.

3. Technical Characteristics of Jumunjin Lighthouse
The first lantern in Jumunjin lighthouse was a 6th order rotating one made by France’s Baviere. The light source was an oil lamp. When air was pumped through a tube, the air pressure caused the oil to be stored in an oil can at the top of the lantern room, which then dripped drop by drop onto the oil lamp’s asbestos wick to produce light. The rotating machine, floating on a mercury bath, rotated the lantern four times per minute via electric motor. When Jumunjin Lighthouse was first lit in 1918, the light power was 800 candela. This power was relatively low compared to other lighthouses, and as the number of vessels calling at Jumunjin increased over seven times between 1926 and 1933, the need for stronger light power was raised among the local residents. The regional fisheries association played a key role in suggesting reinforcement of the light power, which was accepted by the Japanese Government-General of Korea. Consequently, starting from October 1933, commercial electricity was connected, replacing the oil lamp with an electric incandescent light bulb, increasing the light power to 16,0000 candela and extending visibility to 17.5 miles. Today, an LED lantern with the latest technology, applied in 2020, is in use.
Vacuum tube equipment for the radio aid at Jumunjin Lighthouse has been in operation since December 1964. In 1981, it was replaced by a wireless transmitter and was used until the radio beacon station was abolished in April 2005. The first audible aid was an air siren, installed in 1969 after the fog signal annex was built. Currently, an electronic horn, which sounds for 5 seconds every 60 seconds and reaches a ranged of 2 miles, is in use. In 2000, a DGPS was installed and in 2014, AIS AtoN was added.

Reason For Nomination

Intrinsic Heritage Interest of the Lighthouse
Jumunjin region was called Yeongokhyeon 1000 years ago. It was called ‘Saemal’ once the port had been made at the seaside and the village had been built centering around the port. In the late Joseon dynasty, it was named Sinrimyeon which was the Chinese character for Saemal. In 1937, it came to be called by its current name, Jumunjin-myeon, named after the port. There is a story that the port name ‘Jumunri’ was given because village had a ferry dock carrying ordered goods, and the name Jumunjin originated from that. Jumunjin is situated in the northern part of Gangwon Province, which is close to the midpoint of the major seaway of the Korean Peninsula. Japan began to show interest in the area of the East Sea when Gyeongwon Line, connecting Seoul and Wonsan opened in 1914. The lighthouse was built as a result of the raised necessity due to rich fish resources of Gangneung Jumunjin and its geographical significance as the midpoint of the major seaway of the East Sea. Jumunjinhang developed as a base for fishing and distribution in the East Sea through the construction of Jumunjinhang after the lighthouse was built. Jumunsan where Jumunjin Lighthouse is situated, is assumed to be the location of Jumunsan Bongsu(beacon), an old beacon of the Joseon dynasty. Even though its form and role have changed over time, its essence remains unchanged. First lit in 1918, this facility is still fulfilling its mission as a manned lighthouse 100 years later. The value of Jumunjin Lighthouse as a historical and cultural heritage includes: ① Authenticity Value ② Historical and Symbolic Value ③ Possibility of Conservation and Utilization Value.

Authenticity Value
When building Jumunjin Lighthouse, the foundation work was carried out after flattening the top of Jumunjin mountain. The cylindrical tower, built of brick, stands 6.5 meters tall. The external diameter from the base to the bottom of the lantern room is 3.2 meters, and it is finished with calcium lime. The base is cylindrical (3.15 meters in height, 3.2 meters in diameter), filled with rock and soil, and the floor is finished with mortar. Brick was chosen as the main material due to its standardized quality, which ensured both structural stability and construction efficiency. Additionally, brick was widely used because it could be adjusted with precision for various types of structures. Lighthouses such as Udo Lighthouse, Homigot Lighthouse, Sanji Lighthouse, and Amtaedo Lighthouse, built in the early 20th century, were also primarily constructed using bricks.
It is double banded by corbelling and the bottom part is rounded as traditional roof eaves, giving the base of the tower’s second floor a projected circular shape. On top of that, the bottom plate is also projected round, with a haunch employed to support it. This helps to disperse the stress at the junctions where cross sections connected. The structure achieves visual harmony with its white painted top and bottom sections, and the black band in the middle created by painting the top lantern room and lower tower white, while the floor of the bottom lantern room is painted black. Aside from the added tower in 1968, the lighthouse has remained since its first lighting in March 1918.

Historical & Symbolic Values
The Gangneung Jumunjin-eup area, where Jumunjin Lighthouse is situated, has a different background compared to other areas where lighthouses were built earlier. The area’s rich fish resources in the East sea and its geographical location, being the midpoint of major sea routes along the East Coast, made Jumunjin develop as a distribution hub for the Yeongdong region. Unlike today, all information flowed into Jumunjin. The Jumunjin Lighthouse was the first facility to introduce new technologies such as electricity, telegraphy, and meteorological systems to the area. Especially, construction of the lighthouse was not for the Japan’s military purposes, but by needs and demands of local residents. Indeed, the residents were actively involved in the construction process transporting materials to the site by themselves. All of this was possible because building the lighthouse was a shared desire of the local community, and there was an understanding and interest among the residents that it would contribute to the development of the local community. During the Japanese colonial period, the story was told of how the residents and lighthouse workers lived together harmoniously, like neighbors. This serves as evidence of how the lighthouse benefited the livelihoods of the residents.

Conservation
Judging from the current state of construction and information on the history card of Jumunjin Lighthouse, it appears that no major architectural changes have taken place. When the Korean government was established, there were 44 lighthouses (19 manned, 25 unmanned) in operation. Jumunjin Lighthouse is recorded as one of the manned lighthouses functioning at the time, indicating that it maintained its operations without major alterations, even after the Pacific War and Independence. During Korean War, the lantern and its room were partially destroyed. Fortunately, the tower sustained no damage, and after Gangwon Province was recaptured in 1951, the lantern was replaced and restored to continue its navigational duty. The tower of Jumunjin Lighthouse retains its original appearance from its extension in 1968 and continues to operate as a manned facility.
According to a cultural assets investigation conducted by Gangneung-si where the lighthouse is located, it is considered valuable as a cultural heritage for the following reasons. ① The first manned lighthouse built in Gangwon Province, ② The brick structure of the tower, ③ Its harmonious integration with the surroundings, ④ A beautiful door frame with a Renaissance style pediment ⑤ The external stair structure that allows for the tower’s height, ⑥ The preservation of the tower, depite the lamp was replaced during the Korean War, ⑦ The double layered cylindrical tower featuring traditional roof eaves.

Public Access and Education
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has provided accommodation for visitors to Jumunjin Lighthouse by creating a small park around the lighthouse as part of a maintenance project. Jumunjin Lighthouse is one of key stops on the Lighthouse Stamp Tour, run by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and National Lighthouse Museum, and is a must-visit for lighthouse enthusiasts. It is a place where travelers can create memories by visiting the lighthouse and getting their stamp to be certified. There is a simple rest area and an observation deck centered around the lighthouse tower, offering a respite for lighthouse visitors, much like the boats returning to port guided by the lighthouse’s light after a long voyage. It is well known as a place where travelers can see the unique shape of the lighthouse and the vast East sea. Particularly notable is the staircase that connects the ground to the entrance of the tower. The lighthouse has a distinctive design that cannot be found in other lighthouses in Korea. As you ascend the 15 steps to the tower’s entrance, you can enjoy a unique view, feeling as if you are on a observation deck where the lighthouse hill, the port and the sea are visible all at once.
The tower of Jumunjin Lighthouse still retains its original appearance from the time of its construction, and the lighthouse continues to operate as a manned facility. In 2003, marking the 100th anniversary of the first lighting of a modern style lighthouse in Korea, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries established the Lighthouse Cultural Heritage Committee to preserve and utilize historically valuable aids to navigatio. After conducting a basic survey, on December 18, the committee designated 23 lighthouses, including Jumunjin Lighthouse, as “Lighthouse Cultural Heritages.”

Photos and Diagrams