Gohyeonseong Fortress, Geoje

An eupseong is a walled town fortress that protected the residents of a gun (county) or hyeon (sub-county) while serving both military and administrative functions. This is the eupseong of Geoje, built of stone in a boat-shaped plan on level ground at Gohyeon-ri, Sinhyeon-eup, Geoje City, South Gyeongsang Province. It is said to have served as the government office of Geoje County until 1663, the fourth year of King Hyeonjong. According to records in the Dongguk yeoji seungnam, the wall measured 3,038 cheok (921 m) in circumference and 13 cheok (4 m) in height, but the wall that survives today measures 818 m in length and 2 m in height. Gates were set at three points — east, west and south — and in front of each gate a small auxiliary wall was built for its protection. Defensive features also included a low parapet above each gate and a moat dug around the fortress to keep water flowing. When the Imjin War broke out in 1592, the twenty-fifth year of King Seonjo, the fortress fell to Japanese forces for a time, but it went on to serve as a stronghold neighbouring the naval encampments along the south coast. Afterwards the government office was relocated to Geoje-eup, and the fortress lost its function as a walled town. During the Korean War, a prisoner-of-war camp established here by UN forces destroyed most of it, and today only about 600 m of wall on the south-western side retains its original appearance.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Geoje, Gyeongnam

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물