Seogosan Fortress in Jeonju Designated as Jeonbuk-do Cultural Heritage

Responsible for Defense Functions... Recognized for Historical Value

Jeonju Seogosan Fortress will be designated as a cultural heritage site of North Jeolla Special Self-Governing Province.

According to Jeonju City on the 20th, North Jeolla Special Self-Governing Province has designated and announced Jeonju Seogosan Fortress, which was responsible for the defense of the western region of Jeonju centering on Hwangbangsan (Seogosan) area, as a provincial cultural heritage (monument).

Jeonju Seogosan Fortress is designated as a cultural heritage of Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province. Photo by Jeonju City

Seogosan Fortress was first recorded in the "Joseon Treasures and Historic Sites Survey Data" published by the Japanese Government-General of Korea during the Japanese colonial period. From the 1970s to 2017, only a rough outline of its status was identified through three surface surveys.

Starting with a trial excavation in 2019, the city and the province conducted a total of four trial and full-scale excavations until last year, confirming the existence of an earthen rampart built during the Three Kingdoms period, a stone rampart reconstructed during the Unified Silla period, and building sites from the Three Kingdoms to Later Baekje periods.

Among these, for the earthen rampart from the Three Kingdoms period, the mountainside was dug in an 'L' shape or stepped form, and the rampart was constructed by mixing clay, stone, and sand and tamping them down. During the Unified Silla period, traces of large-scale reconstruction with stone ramparts after partially cutting away Baekje's earthen rampart were confirmed through excavation.

Seogosan Fortress has been recognized for its value as a representative mountain fortress that reveals the methods of construction and the process of transformation of such fortifications.

In addition, roof tile fragments featuring the characteristics of Baekje, including tongjokwatong (cylindrical molds made of bamboo used for shaping tiles in Baekje), and various types of Baekje earthenware were collected around the earthen rampart. Artifacts from the Unified Silla to Later Baekje periods were also found within the stone rampart and building sites.

Through these trial and full-scale excavations, the overall construction methods and transformation process of Jeonju Seogosan Fortress have been revealed, and it has been evaluated as a heritage site with historical authenticity and period value based on artifacts and documentary evidence, thus being recognized as a cultural heritage.

Through the provincial monument designation, the city plans to prevent further damage to the site and preserve the landscape by carrying out procedures to designate a historical and cultural environment preservation area. A comprehensive maintenance plan will be established, based on which mid- and long-term excavations and fortress maintenance and restoration will be carried out.

Noh Eunyoung, Director of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, said, "Seogosan Fortress has proven its historical value through excavations and is an important heritage of Jeonju that must be preserved. We will continue excavation and maintenance projects so that Jeonju Seogosan Fortress is properly preserved, maintained, and its value is fully recognized."

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