Searching for the 'Forgotten History' of Yongsan Base Dunjisan

Yongsan-gu 'Tracing the History of Dunjisan' Academic Seminar... On the 27th at 2 PM in the 3rd Floor Auditorium of Yongsan Cultural Center
Opening Remarks, Keynote Presentation, Discussion, and Closing in a 4-Hour Session

The southern end of Dunjisan depicted in the late Joseon period 'Gyeongjo Obudo' (marked with a red circle)

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yongsan-gu (Mayor Seong Jang-hyun) is recalling the forgotten history of Dunjisan (屯之山), located within the U.S. military Yongsan Base.

On the 27th at 2 p.m., the district will hold an academic seminar titled "Searching for the Lost History of Dunjisan - Focusing on the Historicity and Spatiality of Namdan (南壇)" at the 3rd-floor auditorium of the Yongsan Cultural Center.

The event is hosted and organized by the Yongsan Cultural Center and supported by Hanil Historical Materials.

The program will run for four hours, including guest introductions, opening remarks, keynote presentations, a comprehensive discussion, and closing remarks. Professor Emeritus Jeong Jae-jeong of the University of Seoul will serve as the moderator (chairperson).

The keynote presentations will be delivered in the following order: Research Professor Moon Sang-myung of Sungshin Women’s University on "The Origin and Spatial Characteristics of Dunjisan," Lee Wook of the Academy of Korean Studies on "The Danmyo Shrines of Seoul and the Symbolism of Namdan," and Professor Kim Tae-woo of Shinhan University along with Kim Cheon-su, Director of the History and Culture Research Office at Yongsan Cultural Center, on "The Process of Disappearance and Restoration Theories of Dunjisan’s Spatiality."

Research Professor Moon Sang-myung will introduce the formation process of Dunjibang (屯之坊)?a military village established outside the capital during King Yeongjo’s reign in the Joseon Dynasty, one of the eleven southern districts of Hansungbu, covering present-day Yongsan-gu areas such as Itaewon, Seobinggo, Huam, and Dongja-dong?and the spatial significance of the current Yongsan Base.

Researcher Lee Wook will examine the nature of Namdan, also known as Pungunroeudan (風雲雷雨壇). Namdan is one of the oldest state ritual facilities in the Joseon Dynasty alongside Jongmyo Shrine and Sajikdan Altar. It was the predecessor of Hwangudan located in Sogong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, where the king personally conducted rain prayers and rituals for a bountiful harvest.

Professor Kim Tae-woo and Director Kim Cheon-su will reexamine the location of Namdan. By reviewing various historical records and old maps, they will verify multiple sites including the presumed Namdan site within the current Yongsan Base, as well as the grounds of Samgwang Elementary School and Yongsan Middle School.

Director Kim Cheon-su stated, "If additional document discoveries and archaeological investigations proceed during the future development of Yongsan Park, the forgotten location of Namdan is expected to be confirmed. The restoration of Dunjisan’s historicity and spatiality will begin from here."

He added, "Although the name Yongsan Park has been decided, the name Dunjisan must also be restored. There was Dunjisan, not Yongsan, within the Yongsan Base. We must not repeat the distortions made during the Japanese colonial period."

The keynote presentations will be followed by a comprehensive discussion featuring Bae Woo-ri, former president of the Korean Toponymy Society; Yang Hyo-seong, a local historian; Bae Kyung-sik, deputy director of the Institute for Historical Issues; Park Jong-in, senior reporter at Chosun Ilbo; and Kim Kyu-won, senior reporter at Hankyoreh21.

In-depth discussions are expected on topics such as the geological features and place names of Dunjisan and methods for preserving the historical significance of Yongsan Base.

Considering the COVID-19 situation, the district has minimized the number of attendees. Health checks and social distancing measures will be strictly observed. No additional attendees beyond the planned 20 participants will be allowed.

Yongsan-gu Mayor Seong Jang-hyun said, "The complete creation of Yongsan Park begins with a full understanding of history. Through this seminar, we hope to reexamine the historical meaning and value of Namdan and raise interest in the historical and cultural heritage within Yongsan Park."

Last year, the district also held an academic symposium with the Yongsan Cultural Center titled "Research on the Historicity and Spatiality of the Yongsan Detention Center within Yongsan Base." This year, they published an integrated three-volume set titled "Searching for the History of Yongsan Base," marking the first comprehensive achievement in researching the base’s history.

At the end of this year, another symposium on the detention center will be held, featuring more in-depth content than last year, along with a separately published collection of materials.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.