1899 DAIHAN

About this board game

1899 DAIHAN is an 18xx railway strategy game for 3–5 players, with an approximate play time of 240 minutes. Set in the Daihan Empire on the Korean Peninsula, it begins in the era of the first Seoul–Incheon railway operation in 1899.

Take control of a national railway company founded with Korean capital and pursue a vision of national prosperity through strategic railway expansion. The starting point is established, but the direction of Korea’s future is shaped by the choices made during play.

Building on the basic rules of 1830, the game adds a historical transport system centered on resources that were heavily leaked abroad at the time. These goods become part of the railway challenge:

• Gold
• Coal
• Rice
• Ginseng

As railway development unfolds, foreign powers compete for influence, each represented by its own railway empire. Their presence creates a broader struggle around Korea’s industrialization and the future of its transportation network.

In 1899 DAIHAN, railway expansion is tied to a bold national vision inspired by real historical endeavors. You must navigate the competing interests surrounding the Korean Empire while deciding how your company can contribute to growth and prosperity.

Will you forge a new path for Korea, or be swallowed by the tides of history? With its 18xx foundation, historical setting, and added focus on gold, coal, rice, and ginseng transport, this long-form strategy game offers a distinctive interpretation of railway development in the Korean Empire.