Ulsan Waeseong

This fortress in Hakseong-dong, Ulsan, originated as a Silla-period fortress called Gyebyeonseong. In 1597, the 30th year of King Seonjo, during the Jeongyu War, the Japanese general Kato Kiyomasa rebuilt it as a waeseong, a Japanese-style fortress; because of its island-like shape the Korean side called it Dosanseong. Fierce fighting took place from 23 December of 1597 to 4 January of the following year, as the Japanese forces, pushed back by the combined Korean and Ming Chinese armies, withdrew into the fortress. With no food left, the Japanese troops held out by drinking urine and eating their horses, and when reinforcements arrived they strengthened the defences by building the walls three layers deep. However, defeated in a second battle the following year, 1598, the Japanese burned the fortress by night and retreated. The fortress is centred on a main enclosure at the summit, with walls built two to three layers deep to the north and north-west; the walls run 1,300 m in length and stand 10–15 m high. Twelve tall watchtowers were built for observation, and on the three sides other than the south an earthen rampart was raised with a wooden palisade set on top. The south side faced the sea, allowing ships to sail up to the foot of the fortress and anchor there.

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Where it is

Region

Jung-gu, Ulsan

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료