Dujeong-gap (Eastern Brigandine)

Korean armor with brass-studded iron plates

The dujeong-gap (頭釘甲) was the signature military armor of the Joseon dynasty, constructed by sandwiching small iron plates between layers of fabric and securing them with brass studs (dujeong). The studs formed a distinctive dotted pattern on the outer surface that gave the armor its name. Structurally similar to the Western brigandine but developed independently, it saw widespread adoption after the Imjin War (1592-1598) as a cost-effective alternative to lamellar armor, offering a balanced 10-15kg of protection suited to both melee and the emerging age of gunpowder.