Dongnaeeupseong

The Dongnaeeupseong Fortress is located on Dongnae-gu, Busan Metropolitan City, Republic of Korea.[1][2]

Dongnaeeupseong Fortress 東萊邑城址 동래읍성지
Dongnae-gu, Busan, Republic of Korea
North Gate of the Dongnaeeupseong Fortress
Type	Korean castle
Site information
Condition	Reconstructed, serves as historic site
Site history
Built	Unidentified, rebuilt 1021, 1387 and 1713
Built by	Unidentified
In use	1592-1945
Materials	stone, wood, plaster walls (original); concrete, stone, wood, plaster walls (reconstruction)
Demolished	1910 as a result of the order of the demolish to Korea's Fortress by Japanese Government.
Battles/wars	Siege of Dongnae

Dongnaeeupseong
Hangul	동래읍성지
Hanja	東萊邑城址
Revised Romanization	Dongnaeeupseongji
McCune–Reischauer	Tongnae-ŭpsŏngji

Traditionally In Korea, a wall-fortress was erected in each town to keep it safe from invasions. In this area called Dongnae, there were some borough-states after the Samhan period (the 1st century BC), Geochilsanguk, Chilsanguk, Jangsanguk and Dongnoguk states are told to have been included among these. It is believed that walls had been already built here at that time.

However, the first mention about the Dongnaeeupseong Fortress that appears in historical records is that the wall was repaired in 1021, the twelfth year of the reign of King Hyeonjong of Goryeo Dynasty.

Since the Japanese began their invasions into Korea on April 14, 1592, this Dongnaeeupseong Fortress, along with the Busanjinseong Fortress, became the first target by the Japanese. Siege of Dongnae ensued here, in which General Song Sang-hyeon and all the other officials, troops and common people lost their lives.

The Fortress was repaired and expanded in 1713, extending its circumference to 5,240 meters. It had four gates: Jihuiru (east), Simseongnu (west), Muuru (south), and Eunillu (north). A wing fortress was built upon the south gate and small fortifications were erected on the other three gates too. At present, there are some restored structures inside the wall, including the north gate with a fortification on its top, Dongjangdae and Seojangdae, and Bukjangdae, Insaengmun (Gate), Chiseong wall and a fortified small wall surrounding a gate.

References

1. "국가문화유산포탈 -". www.heritage.go.kr.
2. "Dongnaeeupseong History Festival (동래읍성 역사축제) | Official Korea Tourism Organization". english.visitkorea.or.kr. Retrieved 2018-08-09.