Pohang City Completes Land Acquisition and Restoration of Joseon Dynasty Naval Base Site 'Chilpo Sugunmanhoseong' Preservation Site

Purchase and Maintenance of Private Land with Building Prohibition ... Utilization as Public Rest Areas for Citizens

The fortress of the naval base from the Joseon Dynasty, 'Chilpo Naval Command Fortress.' The inscription 'Jeongdeok 10th Year (1515), Eulhae Construction Fortress' is an important record for determining the year of construction. (Appearance after paint removal and maintenance completion)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] Pohang City has completed the purchase and restoration of three plots of buried cultural heritage preservation sites located in Chilpo-ri, Heunghae-eup, Buk-gu.

The project site is a naval fortress relic known to have been constructed during the Joseon Dynasty. It was an area where construction activities were prohibited following a notification of buried cultural heritage preservation measures from the Cultural Heritage Administration. However, after purchasing the land, Pohang City restored it to its current state to be used as a public resting space for citizens.

The buried cultural heritage preservation site corresponds to the fortress of the naval base called ‘Chilpo Sugunmanhoseong,’ a Joseon Dynasty naval base relic. It was discovered in 2020 during an excavation investigation conducted by a private landowner who intended to build a structure.

The excavation site in 2020.

A cultural heritage expert who observed the site stated that it is an “important relic demonstrating the construction method of naval fortresses located on the east coast during the early Joseon period” and emphasized the necessity of preservation. Accordingly, under Article 14 of the ‘Act on the Protection and Investigation of Buried Cultural Heritage,’ a notice of ‘on-site preservation’ was issued, and construction activities were prohibited.

In response, Pohang City proposed a budget for land acquisition of the three plots related to the ‘Chilpo Sugunmanhoseong’ buried cultural heritage preservation site to the Cultural Heritage Administration and Gyeongbuk Province. Securing national and provincial funding, the city purchased the land in January 2022 and installed information boards and created resting areas to help citizens understand the preservation site.

In particular, the inscription on the fortress wall reading ‘正德十年(1515) 乙亥造築 城’ is an important record that identifies the construction year of Chilpo Sugunmanhoseong. Preservation work was completed, including the removal of previously applied paint contaminants.

A Pohang City official stated, “In cases where privately owned land is prohibited from construction due to buried cultural heritage preservation measures following excavation investigations, as in the case of Chilpo Sugunmanhoseong, we will promptly purchase and restore the land to create spaces that help the public understand cultural heritage and ensure these spaces are accessible and welcoming to citizens.”