Seoul City Initiates World Heritage Registration for 'Hanyangdoseong-Tangchundaeseong-Bukhansanseong'... First Excavation Survey of Tangchundaeseong

First Excavation Survey in 46 Years Since Designation as Tangible Cultural Property... 1000㎡ Survey and Research Around Bukhansan Until July

Hanyangdoseong-Tangchundaeseong-Bukhansanseong Painted Together in One Frame, Doseongyeonyungbukhannahapdo (Early 19th Century, Seoul National University Kyujanggak Collection)

Hanyangdoseong Inwang Section Viewed from Tangchundaeseong

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City announced on the 27th that it will promote the integrated registration of the Joseon Dynasty capital fortress ‘Hanyangdoseong-Tangchundaeseong-Bukhansanseong’ as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

As the first step, the city will begin the initial excavation survey of ‘Tangchundaeseong,’ the fortress wall that connected Hanyangdoseong and Bukhansanseong, on the 28th. This is the first excavation in 46 years since Tangchundaeseong was designated as a Seoul City Tangible Cultural Property in 1976. The target area is 1,000㎡ (with a detailed excavation of 50㎡) on the slopes of Bukhansan Mountain at the boundary between Jongno-gu and Seodaemun-gu, with plans to complete the excavation by July.

Through this excavation, Seoul City aims to identify the original form, structure, and characteristics of Tangchundaeseong and promote its registration as a nationally designated cultural heritage site within the year. Although Tangchundaeseong is an important cultural asset connecting Hanyangdoseong and Bukhansanseong, proper preservation and maintenance have not been carried out. The goal is to elevate Tangchundaeseong to the same historic site status as Hanyangdoseong and Bukhansanseong to strengthen its preservation and management.

Tangchundaeseong is a fortress wall connecting the city fortress Hanyangdoseong and the mountain fortress Bukhansanseong, constructed between 1718 (the 44th year of King Sukjong) and 1753 (the 29th year of King Yeongjo). During wartime, it played a crucial role as a protective passage allowing the royal family and city residents to evacuate to Bukhansanseong. In peacetime, it functioned as a defensive facility protecting military supply warehouses storing food and materials in the Pyeongchang-dong area inside the city fortress.

The Yeonyungdaedo (鍊戎臺圖), a map created in the 19th century, clearly depicts Tangchundaeseong connecting Hanyangdoseong and Bukhansanseong. It provides an overview of the fortress walls of Tangchundaeseong, recognized as a strategic defense point along with the city and mountain fortresses, as well as the surrounding military and warehouse facilities.

Tangchundaeseong maintained its original form from the construction period (Sukjong to Yeongjo) until 1921, but parts of Hongjimun, Ogan Water Gate, and Tangchundaeseong were damaged by floods. After being neglected for about 50 years, it was designated as a Seoul City Tangible Cultural Property in 1976, followed by restoration work completed the following year. It is now a popular spot for citizens exploring Hanyangdoseong and Bukhansanseong.

The city plans to secure basic data for the restoration and maintenance of Tangchundaeseong through this excavation and complete its designation as a historic site by the end of the year. Starting next year, it will carry out phased maintenance projects for preservation and management, including trail maintenance, tree care, and creating 3D scanned drawings of the fortress walls. In addition to the excavation, an academic symposium to demonstrate the value of Tangchundaeseong is scheduled to be held in June.

Joo Yong-tae, head of Seoul City’s Cultural Headquarters, said, “Tangchundaeseong played an important role in connecting Hanyangdoseong and Bukhansanseong to protect refugees during wartime, and this year we aim to designate it as a nationally designated cultural heritage site to strengthen its preservation and management. Based on this, we will actively work to ensure that ‘Hanyangdoseong-Tangchundaeseong-Bukhansanseong’ can be integrated and registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site in the future.”

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