Muju-gun, Jeonbuk Gaya 'Dangsan-ri Bonghwa Site' Academic Conference Held

Application for Designation of 'Provincial Cultural Properties' Including Bonghwa Ruins Within the Year

Ancient Cultural Sites... High Academic Value of 'Jeomijidae'

Muju-gun, Jeonbuk Province, held an academic conference to find ways to preserve and utilize the Dangsan-ri Bonghwa site and has begun the process of applying for designation as a provincial cultural asset.

According to the county on the 18th, the 'Muju Dangsan-ri Bonghwa Site Academic Conference' for cultural asset designation was held on the 17th at the main auditorium of the County Citizens' Hall.

The academic conference was hosted by Muju-gun and organized by the Jeolla Cultural Heritage Research Institute. Based on the academic survey results conducted on the Dangsan-ri Bonghwa site, which was confirmed in 2021, the event aimed to find ways to preserve and utilize the site and to prepare for the application for designation as a provincial cultural asset.

Academic Conference on Mujudangsalli Cultural Heritage for Cultural Property Designation on the 17th.
[Photo provided by Muju-gun]

About 100 people attended, including Deputy County Governor Yoo Ho-yeon, Kim Mi-ran, Director of the Jeolla Cultural Heritage Research Institute, Lee Hae-yang, Chairperson of the Muju County Council, Yoon Jeong-hoon, a provincial assembly member, experts in related fields, and local residents.

On the day, Deputy Governor Yoo said, "Based on the investigations and results conducted over the past three years, this serves as a foundation to study and establish the various values of the Dangsan-ri Bonghwa site. I hope the infinite value of the site will be properly highlighted."

The academic conference was chaired by Professor Emeritus Lee Jae-woon of Jeonju University, who led the proceedings. During the comprehensive discussion session, all presenters and discussants participated to share their opinions.

Park Young-min, a research fellow at the Jeolla Cultural Heritage Research Institute, presented on "Survey Results of the Muju Dangsan-ri Bonghwa Site," and Jo Myung-il, a visiting professor at Gunsan University's Gaya Culture Research Institute, spoke on "Survey Status of Bonghwa in the Eastern Jeonbuk Region."

Following these, Dr. Kim Ju-hong from the Korea Land and Housing Corporation presented "Review of Bonghwa in Korea's Ancient and Medieval Periods," and Professor Seo Jeong-seok of Kongju National University presented on "Restoration and Utilization Plans for the Muju Dangsan-ri Bonghwa Site."

As individual topics, Park Hyun-soo, Director of the Jeonju University Museum, Kang Won-jong, Research Fellow at Seogyeong Cultural Heritage Research Institute, Hong Sung-woo, Head of the Survey and Research Department at Gyeongsang Cultural Heritage Research Institute, and Ko Yong-gyu, Special Researcher at Mokpo University Museum, participated as discussants.

The county plans to establish the academic value of the Dangsan-ri Bonghwa site through this academic conference and apply for provincial cultural asset designation within the year.

Baekdudaegan Bonghwasan Bongsudae. [Photo provided by Gunsan University Gaya Culture Research Institute]

Muju Ancient Culture Bonghwa and Ironmaking Sites... Increased Academic Value as a 'Point Zone'

Over the past five years, the county has conducted academic surveys on ancient cultural zones including the Muju Daechari Tumuli, Nogosan Bonghwa site, Dangsan-ri Bonghwa site, and Muju Samgong-ri Ironmaking site as part of the excavation and maintenance projects related to Gaya history in the Jeonbuk region.

Since the Dangsan-ri Bonghwa site in Muju was first confirmed in 2021 by Professor Kwak Jang-geun of Gunsan University, academic surveys have been conducted in collaboration with the Jeolla Cultural Heritage Research Institute to clarify its value.

Bonghwa (beacon fire) was a communication system used before modern times to relay urgent news from border areas, such as wars, to the central government through smoke and torches.

Distribution map of beacon fires in the eastern Jeonbuk region. [Photo provided by Gunsan University Gayageum Culture Research Institute]

The excavated Bonghwa corresponds with the territory of Jeonbuk Gaya. Jeonbuk Gaya, which flourished Gaya culture, is known as the Bonghwa Kingdom symbolized by about 70 beacon fire sites in the eastern Jeonbuk region.

The Gaya-related kingdom Banpa (伴跛(叛波)) waged war for three years from 513 to 515 over the Gimunguk (己汶國) of the Unbong Plateau and operated beacon fires during this period.

The eastern Jeonbuk region is a point zone where relics and artifacts of Gaya, Baekje, and Silla, which had the highest density of mountain fortresses and beacon fires in ancient Korea, coexist.

The Dangsan-ri Bonghwa site was revealed to be a military defense site equipped with three beacon fire facilities, surrounding protective stone walls, and water collection facilities. A third phase trial excavation is currently underway.

According to academia, the Muju Dangsan-ri Bonghwa site is located at the summit of a mountain ridge at an elevation of 429.6 meters, and there remain aspects yet to be confirmed, indicating high academic value.

Fragments of pottery from the Three Kingdoms period were excavated from the bases of the first and second beacon fires, providing materials to estimate the construction period.

The excavated artifacts are pottery fragments from the Three Kingdoms to Later Baekje periods, with active excavation investigations ongoing recently. The same pattern has been confirmed in the beacon fire sites of the mountainous eastern Jeonbuk region.

Researchers expressed the opinion that "the third beacon fire also needs precise excavation to accurately understand the nature and structure of the site."

Im Jeong-hee, head of the county's cultural heritage team, stated, "Along with future excavation investigations, literature reviews and the relationship with surrounding sites will be thoroughly examined to establish a historical cultural zone centered on the Dangsan-ri Bonghwa site and to lay the foundation for its preservation and maintenance."

Mujoo Daejeokgol Jeonbuk Gaya Iron Age Site Smelting Site. [Photo provided by Gunsan University Gaya Culture Research Institute]

Meanwhile, the eastern Jeonbuk region has the highest density of ironmaking sites in the country and demonstrates the dynamic essence of iron culture. Jeonbuk Gaya is regarded as the Kingdom of Iron.

It is essentially an 'Iron Age Museum' where most iron artifacts, centered on the iron-made chodu (鐵製?斗) first revealed in the Jeonbuk Gaya territory, have been found.

Humanity achieved historical development during the Iron Age. In Korea, the first ancient states emerged, and Gaya's reputation as the Kingdom of Iron is also based on iron culture.

Muju has been recognized as a point zone of ancient culture and an important resource production area with numerous ironmaking sites, regarded as a significant opportunity to redefine Muju's ancient cultural history.

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