South Korea - Ancient Mountain Fortresses in Central Korea

Coordinates: Samnyeon Sanseong: N36 29 14 E127 44 32 Sangdang Sanseong: N36 39 40 E127 32 25 Mireuk Sanseong: N36 48 07 E127 54 42 Chungju Sanseong: N36 57 23 E127 58 42 Jangmi Sanseong: N37 03 42 E127 54 09 Deokju Sanseong: N36 52 08 E128 05 54 Ondal Sanseong: N37°04'37 E128°29'53 The property refers to the sites of national defenses located in Chungcheongbuk-do, the central region of Korea, which display major characteristics of sanseong or mountain fortresses from ancient times, through the middle ages, to modern times. Korea is called "a country of sanseong (mountain fortress)." The ancestors of present-day Korean people developed unique defense facilities by using the natural environment of the Korean peninsula where mountains and hills are abundant. To date, almost 2,400 mountain fortress sites large and small have been found in Korea. There are 212 mountain fortress sites in Chungcheongbuk-do, the central region of Korea. The mountain fortresses of Korea have been consistently evolved in design and construction. Not only were the early types of mountain fortresses developed toward perfection by virtue of historical experience, but they were also developed to enhance defensive abilities in the process of repelling foreign invaders. In this respect, the mountain fortress in Korea can be identified as historical monuments achieved by the outstanding cultural ability of the Korean people.