A Study on the Introduction Time of a Reefer Ship in Korea

우리나라 빙장선 도입 시기에 관한 소고

Cold storage and transportation facilities play major roles in the implementation of fishery cold chain systems. Most fishes are more easily perishable than other food products such as agricultural products and livestock products. Therefore, fishery cold chain systems were earlier introduced than other food clod chain systems. It is acknowledged that a reefer ship as a component of cold chain systems was used in the fishery transportation in the Joseon Dynasty. But researchers disagree on the introduction time of a fishery reefer ship. This study investigated the introduction time of a fishery reefer ship by some conditions including the number of private cold storage facilities, the magnitude of fishing vessels, and the plenty catch of fish species. According to reviewing the introduction conditions of fishery reefer ships, it was estimated that fishery reefer ships were introduced in 15th century. Therefore, the introduction time of a fishery reefer ship is more advanced about 300 or 400 years than as we know.