Gijang Anti-Western Stele

A cheokhwabi is a stone stele that Heungseon Daewongun, who had led Joseon to victory over Western forces in the Byeongin-yangyo (French invasion of 1866) and the Sinmi-yangyo (American invasion of 1871) during the reign of King Gojong, ordered erected at important places throughout the country to reject Western power and to impress this stance upon all the people. This stele is one of them. It consists of a tall, rectangular stone body set on a low square base. The inscription carries a sternly worded warning: 'When Western barbarians invade, to argue for peace instead of fighting is to sell out the nation; let this be a warning to our descendants for ten thousand generations.' It originally stood at a spot overlooking the East Sea, inside the breakwater of Daebyeon Harbour, but during the Japanese colonial period the Japanese pulled it out and cast it into the sea when the harbour was widened. It was recovered after liberation and now stands within the grounds of Daebyeon Elementary School.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gijang, Busan

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물