Janggieupseong Walled Town, Pohang

An eupseong is a walled town built to protect the residents of a county or district while serving both military and administrative functions. The wall here was first built during Goryeo to fend off Japanese pirates from the east and defend against coastal incursions by the Jurchen from the north. According to records such as the Goryeosa (History of Goryeo) and the Sinjeung Dongguk yeoji seungnam, the wall was originally built of earth in the second year of King Hyeonjong of Goryeo (1011), but was rebuilt in stone during the Joseon period. The wall is oval in shape with a circumference of 1,440 m, and is equipped with three gates, ongseong (small semicircular walls built to protect the gates), and chiseong (rectangular projections built out from the outer face of the wall). It also has four wells and two ponds known as eummaji, or horse-watering ponds. Inside the wall are the remains of Janggi Hyanggyo, a local educational institution, and the site of the dongheon, the local government office; the dongheon building has since been relocated and is now preserved on the grounds of the township office. Situated atop a mountain while also serving as the administrative seat of the town, Janggieupseong is an important site for the study of Korean walled towns.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Pohang, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Historic Site · 사적