Goheung Palyongsan Mountain on the Verge of Being Designated as a Nationally Designated Cultural Property 'Myeongseung'

Published 15 Feb.2024 15:53(KST)

Scenic Views of Dadohae, High Historical and Academic Value

Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Gong Yeong-min) announced that ‘Palyongsan,’ a representative famous mountain of Goheung, is expected to be designated as a national cultural asset ‘Scenic Site.’

The ‘Goheung Palyongsan,’ which the Cultural Heritage Administration plans to designate as a national scenic site, is a famous mountain located in Geumsa-ri and Ucheon-ri of Yeongnam-myeon, and Gangsang-ri and Seonggi-ri of Jeomam-myeon in Goheung-gun.

[Photo by Goheung-gun]

It was designated as a provincial park of Jeollanam-do in 1998 and was upgraded to the Palyongsan district of Dadohaehaesang National Park in 2011, becoming the only mountainous area included in a marine national park.

Known as the foremost among the 10 scenic spots of Goheung, Palyongsan features eight massive rocky peaks that extend like a folding screen along the ridge at the summit, creating a majestic landscape. Each peak offers a scenic view of the beautiful Dadohae archipelago and the mountains and fields of the Goheung Peninsula.

The name Palyongsan was called Paljeonsan (八田山/八?山), Pallyeongsan (八靈山) during the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties, but from the late Joseon period, it has been called Palyongsan (八影山).

The Annals of King Sejong record that in 1448, a law was established to prohibit the unauthorized cutting of pine trees for warship construction, and officials visited various islands and capes along the coastal jurisdictions to record the thriving pine forests. In 1454, the beacon fire station of Paljeonsan was mentioned, and the operation of the beacon fire on Paljeonsan is also known through the late Joseon record ‘Honam Bongdae Jangjol Chongnok.’

Furthermore, the inscription and epitaph on the ‘Heungyang Palyongsan Neunggasa Historical Monument’ erected in 1750 (26th year of King Yeongjo’s reign) contain records of ‘Palyongsan.’ The ‘Mankyeongam Sanggyeongmun (1857),’ ‘Palyongsan Mankyeongam Historical Record (1873),’ and ‘Heungyang-gun Palyongsan Neunggasa Seobulam Record (late 19th century)’ also document anecdotes about the name Palyongsan and the names of each peak.

The terrain of the Goheung Peninsula, where Palyongsan (606.8m above sea level) is located, was formed as a peninsula due to the rise in sea levels after the post-glacial period, submerging low-lying areas underwater.

The geology of Palyongsan belongs to the volcanic rock series, characterized by rough textures and well-developed vertical joints. The eight peaks of Palyongsan are aligned in a straight line along a north-south ridge, each peak consisting of steep rocky cliffs.

Additionally, around the peaks are historical sites such as the ‘Ryu Jeongseung Refuge Cave,’ where Ryu Bi (Cheongsin) hid from Japanese pirate invasions during the Goryeo period, and ‘Seobulam (West Unbelievable Hermitage),’ which was established as a royal prayer site for Crown Prince Gojong during the late Joseon period.

Moreover, historical sites such as Mankyeongamji, a modern-era (1909) site of the righteous army resistance, also exist, making it valuable as a place for historical education.

A Goheung-gun official stated, “We expect Palyongsan in Goheung to be designated as a scenic site that encompasses historical, academic, and scenic values,” and added, “We will prepare multifaceted plans for utilizing this representative local mountain.”