14 Bongsu Relics Connecting Busan and Seoul to Be Designated as Historic Sites

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] The ‘Je2ro Jikbong (Busan Eungbong~Seoul Mokmyeoksan)’, a military communication facility from the late Joseon period, has been designated as a national historic site. The Cultural Heritage Administration designated 14 out of 44 beacon mounds from Busan Eungbong to Seoul Mokmyeoksan as the ‘Je2ro Jikbong’ historic site. Jikbong refers to the beacon network connecting Seoul nationwide, consisting of a total of five routes.

Beacons, which signaled enemy invasions with smoke by day and torches by night, were used from ancient times through the Joseon Dynasty. According to the literature ‘Jeungbo Munheon Bigo’ (1908), there were 622 beacon mounds nationwide. The beacon remains, reflecting geographical information while defending against northern expansion and Japanese pirate invasions, have high academic value but have faced difficulties in concentrated management due to their wide distribution.

National Beacon Mound Sites.

Accordingly, as part of proactive administration, the Cultural Heritage Administration began investigations and research in 2021 to designate the ‘Je2ro Jikbong’ as a national cultural heritage, and this year it was designated as a historic site.

The Cultural Heritage Administration stated, “We will continue to cooperate with related local governments to establish and implement plans to preserve, manage, and utilize the ‘Je2ro Jikbong’ more systematically. We also plan to encourage local governments to designate other beacon remains located along the Je2ro Jikbong route as cultural heritage sites. Additionally, efforts will be continuously made to institutionally protect the ‘Je5ro Jikbong’ (Jeonnam Yeosu Dolsando~Seoul Mokmyeoksan), which has not yet been designated as a national cultural heritage site.”