[1] During the late 14th century, in order to gain ascendancy at sea against Japanese pirates (wokou or waegu), fire arrows called hwajŏn (화전) were used, which would become the predecessor of the sin'gijŏn.

The Chinese, however, regarded the technology of gunpowder as a state secret and restricted access to it and trade in its nitrous raw materials (which could only be found in China).

He also successfully extracted potassium nitrate from the soil[4] and rocks from Japanese trade routes, and developed Korea's first gunpowder.

During the Imjin War, General Kwŏn Yul attributed his successful defense of the fortress Haengjusanseong against numerically superior Japanese forces to the singijeon.

[6] The fuse length was determined by the amount of gunpowder in the paper tube, and was adjusted depending on the distance that the missile had to cover so that it would explode on the target.