Pohang City to Pursue National Heritage Designation for Joseon-era Fortress 'Yeonil Eupseong'

Construction during the Reign of King Sejong of Joseon,
Historical Records Confirmed in the Annals of King Sejong and Sinjeung Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam
Fortress Wall 2.5 Meters High and 2 Kilometers in Circumference,
Well Preserved with Outstanding Value for National Heritage Designation

Pohang City will systematically organize the academic value of preserving and utilizing 'Yeonil Eupseong', a fortress from the Joseon Dynasty, and based on this, will pursue its designation as a national heritage site.

'Yeonil Eupseong' is a stone fortress that surrounds a village in Namseong 2-ri, Daesong-myeon, Nam-gu.

Yeonil Eupseong.

The fortress wall, which is about 2 kilometers long and up to 2.5 meters high, remains in place, and its preservation status has been confirmed to be very good.

Inside the fortress are the tomb of Jeong Seupmyeong (1096?1151), the founder of the Yeonil Jeong clan, and 'Namseongjae', a shrine built to protect the tomb.

There are also abundant documentary records about Yeonil Eupseong.

The 'Annals of King Sejong' record that a fortress was built in Yeonil, Gyeongsang-do in 1430 and 1439, and the 'Sinjeung Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam', published in 1530, mentions a circumference of 2,940 ja, a height of 12 ja, and three wells.

Various documents and old maps, including the 'Yeojidoseo', contain detailed information about the location, scale, and major facilities of the Eupseong, and the 'Yeojido', created in the mid-18th century, even depicts the locations of the Eupseong, the guesthouse, and the government office inside.

North wall of Yeonil Eupseong.

Based on these historical materials, Pohang City plans to conduct an academic research project this year for the mid- to long-term preservation and utilization of Yeonil Eupseong, and to submit a comprehensive report to Gyeongbuk Province within the year.

The city will then begin discussions for the designation of Yeonil Eupseong as a national heritage site.

According to the 'Goryeosa Jeolyo', in 1011 (the second year of King Hyeonjong of Goryeo), fortresses were built in four counties?Cheongha, Heunghae, Yeonil, and Janggi?in response to an invasion by the Eastern Jurchens.

Afterwards, through relocation and reconstruction with stone, the fortress served as an Eupseong during the Joseon Dynasty.

Among these, 'Janggi Eupseong' has been designated as a nationally protected cultural heritage site (Historic Site) and is undergoing restoration and maintenance, but much of the remaining Eupseong fortresses have been lost or damaged due to residential development and other factors.

In particular, restoration and maintenance of Heunghae Eupseong and Cheongha Eupseong are more challenging, as their town centers are densely packed with residences and commercial districts, requiring significant time and budget. In contrast, Yeonil Eupseong is located relatively on the outskirts and retains a distinct fortress shape, making restoration and maintenance comparatively easier.

An official from Pohang City stated, "If Yeonil Eupseong is designated as a national heritage site in the future, we plan to allocate related budgets to restore parts of the fortress and establish walking trails and scenic viewpoints," adding, "We will develop Yeonil Eupseong into a historical and cultural tourism resource that citizens can enjoy."

Location map of Yeonil Eupseong.