Anti-Western Stele

This stele was erected in various places across the country by Heungseon Daewongun — who led Joseon to victory over the Western incursions of 1866 and 1871 during the reign of Emperor Gojong — to heighten the people's vigilance against the Western "barbarians". This particular stele originally stood at the fortress site of Busanjin, was later moved to Yongdusan Park, and was relocated to its present site in 1978. It consists of an inscribed stele body set on a square base stone and topped with a roof stone. The inscription carries a strongly worded warning: "Not to fight when the Western barbarians invade is to seek peace with them, and to seek peace with them is to sell the nation." The stele was erected in the 8th year of Emperor Gojong (1871). After the Imo Incident occurred in 1882 and Heungseon Daewongun was abducted to Qing China, most such steles were removed at the demand of the Japanese minister, and today only a few remain scattered here and there.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Nam-gu, Busan

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물