Their tech tree indicates that they are more of a gunpowder civ than Chinese. Defensive civ doesn’t seem to make that much sense to new players anyways.
Not counting Demo Ships and Petards they have 7 gunpowder units/buildings that is more than any other civilisation.
Hand Cannon, Fire Lance, Rocket Cart, Bombard Cannon, Turtle Ship, Cannon Galleon and Bombard Tower.
Though they only have direct bonuses for the Rocket Cart besides the Wood discounts for Fire Lance and Cannon Galleon.
They installed the Bureau of Gunpowder (火藥局) and used it as a manufacturing 提調 (走火) to finally create gunpowder. The firework included the Daejanggunpo (砲 Gunpo), the Yijanggunpo (二將 Gunpo), the Samjanggunpo (六 Gunpo), the 將 砲 (火砲), the Yukhwaseokpo (火㷁), the Shintong (砲), the 火箭 (鐵翎箭), the Chollyeongjeon (皮翎箭), the Chilyeojeon (蒺藜砲), the 穿 (Flow 火), the 箭 (Flow 鐵彈), the 觸 (Cheonsan Oryongjeon), the Hwahwa (Cheoncheon Stream), etc. No one was surprised and amazed by the fact that machines were built. In addition, they studied the system of the war 艦 and made it all in the provincial government.
Volume 7 of Taejo Silok, April 19, Taejo 4
This is an English translation of the actual historical records of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty.
For reference, the production method of gunpowder in China at the time was a state secret. And since only the finished gunpowder was sold to neighboring countries, it was necessary to thoroughly and personally study how to make it independently. After Goryeo and Joseon succeeded in manufacturing gunpowder, he left a book when he died to prevent the leakage of the gunpowder method, which was none other than a book with the method of manufacturing gunpowder, and his son later worked on the development of Hwapo.
That’s why Goryeo-Joseon is a gunpowder civilization, but they couldn’t mass-produce it because the materials used in the black chemical didn’t come out geographically.
Photo by Choi Wonyoung, the actual gunpowder/firebox developer
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Compared to China, the Arab world, the Ottoman Empire, and even Europe, the development of gunpowder technology in Joseon (Korea) was relatively late and more dependent on external transmission—such as acquiring techniques and equipment from the Yuan and Ming dynasties of China. Therefore, calling Joseon a “gunpowder civilization” is somewhat exaggerated.
While Joseon did possess gunpowder technology, its role in military strategy and technological systems was not as prominent or widespread as it was in China or Western countries.
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They also have free techs for Bombard Towers and Hand Cannons
True but it feels more like a side effect of their Archer/Tower bonus.
They don’t get a discount on Hand Cannons (Because they don’t cost Wood) and they don’t get more range on Bombard Towers.
They do get a discount on Fire Lance though.
More of a gunpoweder civilisation then the new Chinese for sure though.
Tbh the Gire Cart UT of the Chinese is quite good, and they do have good BBTs
Although yeah they are a bit underwhelming overall
This is for in game accuracy, not real history.
I was just responding to the person who discussed the history of Korean gunpowder.
That’s quite a lot of gunpowder.
Comparing to some units rated as inf/archers/cav civs while having significant gaps and not a lot of bonuses (the Franks don’t have much besides the scout opening then knight line that isn’t that much stronger than regular ones… weak light cav awful horse archers and no cav UU), Koreans can easily be rated as gunpowder + defensive.