Designation of Seocheon Eupseong Fortress, Built During King Sejong's Reign, Announced
A Key Example Illustrating the Evolution of Fortress Construction Policies in Early Joseon
The stone fortress that blocked Japanese pirates from invading the inland region of Chungcheong via the Geumgang River estuary is set to become a Historic Site.
On July 17, the National Heritage Administration announced plans to designate Seocheon Eupseong Fortress, which was built during the reign of King Sejong of the Joseon Dynasty, as a Historic Site. The agency will collect opinions from various sectors for one month and finalize the designation after a review by the Cultural Heritage Committee.
Seocheon Eupseong Fortress was constructed as a coastal stronghold to defend against Japanese pirate invasions and to ensure stable local administration. Unusually for a coastal fortress, it was built on a mountainous area, making use of the natural terrain. The stone walls form a perimeter measuring 1,645 meters in length.
The structure is regarded as an important example that illustrates the evolution of fortress construction policies in early Joseon. This is because both the terraced interior wall described in the "Chukseongsindo" (New Fortress Construction Map, a standard for fortress building promulgated in the 20th year of King Sejong, 1438) and the "vertical interior wall" construction method of Hanyangdoseong, proposed by Lee Bohum in the 25th year of King Sejong (1443), can be identified at the site.
Seocheon Eupseong Fortress also features unique architectural styles rarely found in other eupseong fortresses. The most notable example is the spacing between the chiseong (protruding structures built on fortress walls to effectively defend against enemies approaching the base of the wall). According to historical records such as "Chungcheongdo Eupji," there were originally seventeen chiseong at this site. Currently, sixteen remain, each spaced approximately 90 meters apart. This is denser than the standard set in the 15th year of King Sejong (1433), which called for an interval of 150 bo (155 meters).
A representative from the National Heritage Administration explained, "There are also features such as the Hyeja (a moat dug around the fortress to defend against enemy attacks), which is believed to have been constructed in later periods, and vertical pit remains (traces of pits dug vertically at intervals of 1.5 to 2 meters for defensive purposes). These features allow us to fully understand the construction structure and changes of early Joseon coastal fortresses."
However, the fortress is not entirely intact. During the Japanese colonial period, most of the public facilities (administrative, military, and other government-related structures) inside the fortress were destroyed under the "Joseon Eupseong Demolition Order" of 1910. Nevertheless, most of the fortress walls, except for the area near the South Gate site, remain in place. The current length of the walls is estimated at 1,535.5 meters, which is about 93.3% of the original perimeter.
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