Notice of Designation as National Historic Sites for Gohung Mabuksan Bongsu and Janggi Mountain Bongsu

Published 25 Aug.2023 14:06(KST)

Joseon Important Military and Communication Facility Beacon System Recognized for Its Value

Gohung-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Gong Young-min) announced on the 25th that two Joseon Dynasty communication relics, the beacon mounds (Bongsu) No. 5 Line Jikbong Gohung Mabuksan Bongsu Site and No. 5 Line Jikbong Gohung Janggisan Bongsu Site, have been preliminarily designated as national cultural heritage historic sites.

The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on August 25, 2023, the preliminary designation of the ‘No. 5 Line Jikbong Gohung Mabuksan (currently Maboksan) Bongsu’ and the ‘No. 5 Line Jikbong Gohung Janggisan (currently Janggye Mountain) Bongsu’ as national historic sites. These beacon mounds are located in Podu-myeon and Doyang-eup of Gohung-gun, respectively.

After the 30-day preliminary announcement period, the designation will be finalized as a ‘historic site (史蹟)’ following the review by the Historic Site Subcommittee.

[Photo by Goheung-gun]

The beacon mound sites were important military communication facilities during the Joseon Dynasty, serving as a means to quickly relay information about enemy situations to the central government in the shortest time possible.

They are recorded in historical documents such as the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, Gyeongguk Daejeon, and various official and private geographical records. These sites exist in various forms consistent with these records, holding significant historical and academic value.

The No. 5 Line direct beacon mound route starts from Bangdapjin in Yeosu and extends to Mokmyeoksan (Namsan) in Seoul.

In particular, Jeolla Province suffered significant damage due to frequent Japanese pirate invasions, and the Joseon court installed beacon mounds along the southern and western sea routes to prevent such attacks in advance.

In the 5th year of King Sejong’s reign, when beacon mounds were installed on Namsan in Hanyang, the importance of the sea routes in Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces was also emphasized.

The Gohung Mabuksan Bongsu site is the fourth beacon mound on the direct line starting from Bangdapjin Dolsando Bongsu in Yeosu.

It was under the jurisdiction of Balpojin’s beacon mound and responded to the Palyongsan beacon mound to the northeast and the Yujusan and Cheondeungsan beacon mounds to the west.

Located at a vantage point on the summit of Mabuksan, it offers a panoramic view in all directions and is an important point overlooking the sea areas of Yeojaman and the Gohung Peninsula.

During the trial excavation from 2022 to 2023, four fire facilities (chimney structures for lighting fires) were discovered together, which is rare for beacon mounds along the Yeonbyeon route, making it valuable material for research on Yeonbyeon beacon mounds.

The Gohung Janggisan Bongsu site is the sixth beacon mound on the direct line starting from Bangdapjin and connects to Jeonilsan Bongsu in Jangheung.

It also sent signals to the Sudeoksan Bongsu in Gohung-eup (Heungyanghyeon government office).

Among the various beacon mounds in Gohung, it is located the farthest west and is situated at a point with excellent views of the southwest coast of the Gohung Peninsula and all directions.

Across Deukryang Bay, it faces Boseong, Jangheung, and Wando counties.

There are a total of 21 beacon mounds in Gohung-gun, including those with different installation periods and the Yomangdae, which are not recorded in historical documents (Paljeonsan, Mabuksan, Cheondeungsan, Yujusan, Janggisan, Ganaepo, Gahwa, Sopo, Dagodu, Mukjidu, Sahwarang, Hodong-ri Sudeoksan, Sadeok-ri Sudeoksan - 13 beacon mounds) and Yomangdae (Bongraesan, Machisan, Namsan, Umisan, Ugaksan, Sado, Mangsan, Sayangdo Bonghwasan - 8 Yomangdae), making it known as a sacred site for beacon mounds. Beacon mound relics are invariably found at the summits of major hiking trails.

This designation of the beacon mound sites as historic sites is expected to confirm that the Joseon-era Gohung region, surrounded by the sea on three and a half sides, was a strategic point for national defense, and it is anticipated to boost efforts for the preservation and utilization of the beacon mounds.

A county official stated, “Until now, the beacon mound relics have only served as structures on mountain summits and have not been recognized as historic sites.” He added, “We will conduct a comprehensive value survey of the beacon mound relics in the jurisdiction and establish practical preservation management and utilization plans going forward.”