• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.72.1-72.1
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• 2014

In the Joseon Dynasty, A day divided into 100 gak (刻, approximately a quarter) or 12 Sijin (時辰, double hours) that was composed of half-Sijin as Cho (初, beginnings of double hours) and Jeong (正, mid-points double hours). The timekeeping system was changed from 100 gak to 96 gak with using $sh{\acute{i}}xi{\grave{a}}n$ calendar (時憲曆) in 1654. And then 12 Sijin was changed to the 24-hours system in the same manner as current with the enforcement of the solar calendar (太陽曆) in 1896. We examine the record of the timekeeping system and notation of hours from the astronomical almanacs and official gazettes during 50 years after 1896. The Korean Empire Government first adopted the standard meridian of the Gyeongseong (former name of the Seoul in Korea) in 1908. However the mean solar time was applied to the almanac since 1913. After 1896, the year of enforcement of the solar calendar, the expression of times on a Korean almanac was written with O-jeon (午前, morning) and O-hu (午後, afternoon). The definition of 1day 24-hours system was first stated by the legislation in 1900. The expression of times was used 24 hours without O-jeon and O-hu in 1916. In daily life, the 24-hours system has used in parallel with 12-hours system divided into morning and afternoon even today.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.49-65
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• 2019

We investigate the provenance and the changes in the timekeeping system focusing on official records such as almanacs and textbooks published by the government after the solar calendar was introduced. We found that the solar calendar and the 12-hour clock time first appeared in 1884 during Joseon dynasty, at that time the solar calendar was used at the open port in Busan to facilitate the exchanges with Japan. The 12-hour clock time first appeared in the 『Hansung Sunbo』 published by the government in 1884. We also found that the Joseon dynasty also used 12 diǎnzhōng or 12 diǎn. In addition, the term of the 'Sigan' first appeared in the first official academic textbook in August 1895, and the chapter related to time contained the information about 12-hour clock time instead of the 12 Shi. In 1908, the meaning of the solar time, the equation of time, and the differences in longitude with the adoption of Korean Standard Time were introduced. Meanwhile, the 24-hour clock time was first introduced in Joseon and applied to railway times in 1907. The 1946 almanac, the first issue after liberation, used the 12-hour clock time which uses 'Sango', 'Hao' and the 24-hour clock time started to be used from the following year and is still used to this day. Finally, the 12-hour clock time, which was introduced around 1884, was enacted as Article 44 of the law in 1900 and was revised again in 1905 and 1908. In Korea, the terms related to the time in the current astronomical calendar system were newly defined around 1884, 1896, and 1908, and gradually standardized through the establishment of laws.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.1022-1032
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• 1989

King Sejong's Striking Clepsydra was an elaborate timekeeping and annunciating system incorporating biological automata capable of annunciating hours, intervals and night-watches based on Shou-shih calindrical systems automatically. In this paper the author has studied the original manuscripts on the Striking Clepsydra [Sejong sillock, 65: 1a-3b ff` 16th year, 7th month(1434)] from the technical point of view undertaking a close analysis of this monumental clock and aiming to our modern understanding of the full degree of delicate mechanisms and sophisticated controls built into the night-watch and division announcing clockwork(jackwork). Based on the input/output model, timekeeping, ball-rack, ball-relay, and audible time-indicating mechanisms were synthesized reconstructing night-watch annunciating systems. It revealed that the night-watch and division announcing processes were entirely renewed automatically. Historical and philological data concerning the improvements of the proposed model were discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 1996.11a
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• pp.697-701
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• 1996

King Sejong's Striking water-clock which brought in use on the first of July in 1434 was mainly composed of timekeeping and time announcing parts signalling twelve double-hours, and five night-watches and night-watch-divisions automatically by means of ball-operating jackworks. The clock was arranged with dual timekeeping system, the one for a full day(twelve double-hours) and the other for five night-watches achieving twelve double-hours and one-hundred interval horary systems. The vessels were arrayed in inflow-type water-clock, a large reservoir on the highest story, a constant-level tank for supplying water to the measuring vessel evenly in the middle, and the lowest tank to receive water from the above constant-level tank. An indicator-rod on the float was raised upwards depending on the water-level increase to show timing scales and also to release small bronze balls from the ball-rack mechanisms implanted on the measuring vessel to signal timing intervals.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.31-40
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• 2019

We study the internal structure under the artificial mountain of Heumkyeonggak-nu, a Korean water-powered clock in the early Joseon dynasty. All the puppets on the artificial mountain are driven by the rotational force generated by the water wheel at their designated time. We design a model that work with three parts of the artificial mountain. At the upper part of the artificial mountain to the east, west, north and south, there are four puppets called the Four Mystical Animal Divinity and four ladies called the Jade Lady respectively. The former rotates a quarter every double hour and the latter rings the bell every hour. In the middle part of this mountain is the timekeeping platform with four puppets; the Timekeeping Official (Hour Jack), the Bell-, Drum-, and Gong-Warriors. The Hour Jack controls time with three warriors each hitting his own bell, drum, and gong, respectively. In the plain there are 12 Jade Lady puppets (the lower ladies) combined with 12 Oriental Animal Deity puppets. In his own time a lady doll pops out of the hole and her animal doll gets up. Two hours later, the animal deity lies down and his lady hides in the artificial plain. These puppets are regularly moved by the signal such as iron balls, bumps, levers, and so on. We can use balls and bumps to explain the concept of the Jujeon system. Iron balls were used to manipulate puppets of the timekeeping mechanism in Borugak-nu, another Korean water-powered clock in Joseon dynasty, which was developed earlier than Heumgyeonggak-nu. According to the North Korea's previous study (Choi, 1974), it is obvious that bumps were used in the internal structure of Heumgyeonggak-nu. In 1669, The armillary clock made by Song, I-young was also utilized bumps. Finally we presented mock-ups of three timekeeping systems.

• Journal of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 2024

This investigation primarily focuses on the generational characteristics of satellites utilized in the existing Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Regional Navigation Satellite System (RNSS), with a central emphasis on comparing the operational status of the latest generation satellites. Variations among satellite generations in physical attributes, energy consumption, and timekeeping are observed, enabling an exploration of the developmental trends over successive generations. Through a comparative analysis of the latest generation satellites, particularly in terms of performance, this study aims to furnish essential insights into the satellites employed within each system. Consequently, it will contribute to a foundational understanding of the past, present, and future GNSS satellites.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.43-57
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• 2020

Hong, Dae-Yong manufactured the Tongcheon-ui (Pan-celestial Armillary Sphere) with cooperating clock researcher Na, Kyeong-Jeok, and its craftsman An, Cheo-In, in Naju of Jeolla Province in 1760 ~ 1762. Tongcheon-ui is a kind of astronomical clock with an armillary sphere which is rotated by the force generated by a lantern clock's weight. In our study, we examine the lantern clock model of Tongcheon-ui through its description of the articles written by Hong himself. As his description, however, did not explain the detail of the mechanical process of the lantern clock, we investigate the remains of lantern clocks in the possession of Korea University Museum and Seoul National University Museum. Comparing with the clocks of these museums, we designed the lantern clock model of Tongcheon-ui which measures 115 mm (L) × 115 mm (W) × 307 mm (H). This model has used the structure of the striking train imitated from the Korea University Museum artifact and is also regulated by a foliot escapement which is connected to a going train for timekeeping. The orientation of the rotation of the going train and the striking train of our model makes a difference with the remains of both university museums. That is, on the rotation axis of the first gear set of Tongcheon-ui's lantern clock, the going and the striking trains take on a counterclockwise and clockwise direction, respectively. The weight of 6.4 kg makes a force driving these two trains to stick to the pulley on the twine pulling across two spike gears corresponding to the going train and the striking train. This weight below the pulley may travel down about 560 mm per day. We conclude that the mechanical system of Tongcheon-ui's lantern clock is slightly different from the Japanese style.