[One Day Walk] Complete Conquest of Namhansanseong... Namhansanseong Dulle-gil Course 5

A 7.7km Course Around Namhansanseong Starting from Dongmun
Exploring the Entire Fortress Wall

The Namhansanseong Dulle-gil Course 5 is a trail that circles the fortress walls, covering a total distance of 12.4 km. Some sections from Courses 1 to 4 of the Namhansanseong Dulle-gil are all included in Course 5. Starting from the East Gate, you will pass through all the gates of Namhansanseong. If you have experienced Courses 1 to 4 so far, this Course 5 is equivalent to a 'complete conquest' where you can see everything about Namhansanseong at once. This also includes the painful history embedded in Namhansanseong.

The journey begins at the Gyeonggi-do Namhansanseong World Heritage Center. To meet the fortress walls of Namhansanseong, first walk toward the East Gate. The East Gate is located on the southeast side of the fortress. This gate is also called 'Jwaikmun' (Left Wing Gate). This is because, with the royal palace as the center, if the king faces south to oversee state affairs, the East Gate is on the left side. Namhansanseong has four main gates: East, West, South, and North. Jwaikmun, along with the South Gate called Jihwamuun, were the most frequently used fortress gates.

From the East Gate, head toward the East Command Post site. The command post was a pavilion used for military command and observation. The East Command Post, located on the east side, now only remains as a site. The next target is the North Gate. It is said that in the past, grain was transported through this gate. It is also called 'Jeonseungmun' (Victory Gate), a name given during King Jeongjo’s renovation of the fortress walls. The path along the fortress walls from this North Gate is the Namhansanseong Dulle-gil Course 1.

Walking along the path, you will come to the West Gate. This gate, located on the northeast side of the fortress, is called 'Uikmun' (Right Wing Gate). The name was given for the same reason as the East Gate, Jwaikmun, mentioned earlier. The West Gate is close to Gwangnaru and Songpanaru, and it is said that King Injo passed through here when he surrendered to the Qing Dynasty at Samjeondo.

After passing the West Gate and continuing to walk, you will come across the 'Sueojangdae' (Command Post). It is the only remaining command post among the five that were in Namhansanseong. Here, there is a plaque called 'Mumangru,' which was named by King Yeongjo to remind people not to forget the humiliation of King Injo during the Byeongjahoran (Second Manchu invasion) and the resentment of King Hyojong, who was taken hostage to Shenyang by the Qing Dynasty for eight years and later planned a northern expedition.

From Sueojangdae, pass Yeongchunjeong Pavilion and walk toward the South Gate. The South Gate is Jihwamuun. Since King Jeongjo’s reconstruction of the fortress walls, the North Gate has been called Jeonseungmun and the South Gate Jihwamuun.

Course 1 ends by walking from this South Gate to Sanseong Rotary. However, Course 5 requires you to head back from the South Gate to the East Gate. Walking along the fortress walls, you will see the East Gate again. Returning to the Gyeonggi-do Namhansanseong World Heritage Center, where you started, completes Course 5.