Iseopgyo Bridge Stele

This stele was erected to commemorate the completion of Iseopgyo Bridge. Though the bridge no longer survives, in 1694, the 20th year of King Sukjong, it was a stone bridge across Oncheoncheon Stream linking present-day Nangmin-dong and Allak-dong in Dongnae-gu to Yeonsan 1(il)-dong, built as three rainbow-shaped hongye (arched stone vaults) joined in an arch form. The inscription records that, where people once had to hitch up their clothes to wade across the stream, a wooden bridge was first built to ease the crossing; but because the timber rotted quickly, the bridge had to be repaired every year. In the winter of 1694 several people resolved together to build a stone bridge instead, raised the necessary funds, and completed it with the help of local people in the spring of 1695. The inscription praises the achievement, stating that "Kim Jin-han took the lead in beginning the work, and Sin Man-jae brought it to completion." Other records, however, state that it was built by Yi Hui-ryong, the magistrate of Dongnae, with contributions from the 69 gye (mutual-aid associations) of Dongnae's seven myeon (districts). The stele has no capstone, so its head is shaped like a half-moon. It measures 237cm in height and 28cm in thickness, making it one of the largest commemorative steles in the Busan region. It also records the titles and names of those who took part in the rebuilding, together with the gye of each district that contributed, making it a valuable source for the study of local history.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Dongnae-gu, Busan

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물