Bongdae Mountain Fortress in Muan Selected for National Heritage Maintenance Project

Confirmation of Local Gentry Heritage from the Later Three Kingdoms Period
Momentum Grows for Historic Site Designation

A panoramic view of the excavation site at Bongdae Mountain Fortress in Muan. Provided by Muan County

Bongdae Mountain Fortress in Haeje-myeon, Muan County, South Jeolla Province, has been selected as a target site for the Cultural Heritage Administration's 'Small-Scale Maintenance Project for Historic and Cultural Zones.'

On November 20, the county announced, "Bongdae Mountain Fortress has been finally selected for the Cultural Heritage Administration's public project, which will be implemented starting in 2026." This project aims to enhance the academic and historical value of buried heritage within historic and cultural zones, and to establish a foundation for preservation, safety management, and utilization after excavation.

At Bongdae Mountain Fortress, various remains have been identified, including fortress walls, bastions (chi), building sites within the fortress, and water collection wells. Notably, a gate threshold stone was unearthed from the northern wall, providing a clue to the location of the fortress gate. In addition, Chinese porcelain from the early 10th century and the first bronze seal ever discovered in the Jeolla and Honam regions were found, serving as important evidence of the existence of local gentry powers based at Bongdae Mountain Fortress during the late Silla to Later Three Kingdoms period.

The county plans to conduct additional investigations by simultaneously promoting the Cultural Heritage Administration's 'Excavation Project for Important Historic Sites in Historic and Cultural Zones' alongside the maintenance project in 2026. Depending on the outcomes of future investigations, the county will also actively pursue the designation of Bongdae Mountain Fortress as a National Cultural Heritage Site (Historic Site).

Kim San, Mayor of Muan County, stated, "Through this maintenance project, we will strengthen preservation and utilization policies that protect the value of our local cultural heritage and allow it to be shared with residents," adding, "We will do our utmost to fully preserve precious local heritage, including Bongdae Mountain Fortress, so that it can be passed on to future generations."