South Korea - Capital Fortifications of Hanyang : Hangyangdoseong Capital City Wall, Bukhansanseong Mountain Fortress and Tangchundaeseong Defense Wall

 Hanyangdoseong 1

Jongno-gu, Seodaemun-gu and Seongbuk-gu Districts, Seoul City


Hanyangdoseong 2

Seongbuk-gu and Jongno-gu Districts, Seoul City


Hanyangdoseong 3

Jongno-gu District, Seoul City


Hanyangdoseong 4

Jongno-gu District, Seoul City


Hanyangdoseong 5

Junggu-District, Seoul City


Hanyangdoseong 6

Jung-gu and Yongsan-gu Districts, Seoul City


Hanyangdoseong 7

Jung-gu District, Seoul City


Hanyangdoseong 8

Jongno-gu and Seodaemun-gu Districts, Seoul City


Bukhansanseong 1

Deokyang-gu District, Goyang City, Gyeonggi-do Province / Jongno-gu, Seongbuk-gu, Gangbuk-gu and Eunpyeong-gu Distrcts, Seoul City


Bukhansanseong 2

Deokyang-gu District, Goyang City, Gyeonggi-do Province


Bukhansanseong 3

Deokyang-gu District, Goyang City, Gyeonggi-do Province


Bukhansanseong 4

Deokyang-gu District, Goyang City, Gyeonggi-do Province


Bukhansanseong 5

Deokyang-gu District, Goyang City, Gyeonggi-do Province


Bukhansanseong 6

Deokyang-gu District, Goyang City, Gyeonggi-do Province


Bukhansanseong 7

Deokyang-gu District, Goyang City, Gyeonggi-do Province


Bukhansanseong 8

Deokyang-gu District, Goyang City, Gyeonggi-do Province


Bukhansanseong 9

Deokyang-gu District, Goyang City, Gyeonggi-do Province


Bukhansanseong 10

Deokyang-gu District, Goyang City, Gyeonggi-do Province


Bukhansanseong 11

Deokyang-gu District, Goyang City, Gyeonggi-do Province


Bukhansanseong 12

Deokyang-gu District, Goyang City, Gyeonggi-do Province


Bukhansanseong 13

Deokyang-gu District, Goyang City, Gyeonggi-do Province


Bukhansanseong 14

Deokyang-gu District, Goyang City, Gyeonggi-do Province


Bukhansanseong 15

Deokyang-gu District, Goyang City, Gyeonggi-do Province


Bukhansanseong 16

Deokyang-gu District, Goyang City, Gyeonggi-do Province


Tangchundaeseong 1

Jongno-gu, Seodaemun-gu and Eunpyeong-gu Districts, Seoul City and Deokyang-gu District, Goyang City, Gyeonggi-do Province

The nominated property comprises fortifications that were completed in the 18th century. These fortifications were built to defend Hanyang, the capital of the Joseon Dynasty. Hanyang, located in the center of the Korean Peninsula, was formed to be the core of politics and economy for the new dynasty when it was founded in the 14th century. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the dynasty faced invasions from Japan and China while being constantly threatened by foreign naval forces and artillery attacks. As a result, a new defense system was determined to be needed to protect the dynasty by strengthening its central military command. The Joseon rebuilt Hanyangdoseong, a city wall surrounding its capital, and constructed two other fortifications called Bukhansanseong and Tangchundaeseong north of the capital city. The nominated property thus consists of these three fortifications that inherit the following traditions: 1. structure of the Korean Peninsula’s traditional capital fortifications, and 2. fortress construction technique utilizing natural topography. In this regard, the property illustrates the development stages of the capital defense system which is composed of the 18th century's a capital city wall, a defense fortress on the mountain and a fortress blocking the enemy’s route.


As a serial property, the nominated property constitutes three sites, the Hanyangdoseong Capital City Wall, Bukhansanseong Mountain Fortress and Tangchundaeseong Defense Wall. These three fortresses are located in Seoul and in the mountainous area north of the capital. The Hanyangdoseong Capital City Wall was first built in the 14th century. To strengthen the capital defense system in the 18th century, the Joseon Dynasty not only reinforced the city wall but also constructed a defending fortress on a mountain located 5km north from the capital. Lastly, the capital defense system was completed by adding a third fortress to block the enemy's route between the capital city wall and the mountainous fortress. These three fortifications were combined to form an integrated defense system. The nominated property, Hanyangdoseong Capital City Wall (18.6km), Bukhansanseong Mountain Fortress (11.6km) and Tangchundaeseong Defense Wall (5.1km), forms a total of 35.3 kilometers in length along with local flatland and ridges. It is the largest existing capital fortification in East Asia.


Hanyangdoseong Capital City Wall is located at the center of Seoul City. The wall measures 18.6km in length, including both stone walls and natural bedrocks. Currently, 14.5km of the total wall is visible with naked eye. The fortress is currently protected and managed as a historic site. In the 20th century, survey work was conducted to ascertain its original wall lines. Moreover, regular excavation projects have led to finding additional remains of the fortress and designating them as Korea’s state Cultural Heritage.


Bukhansanseong Mountain Fortress was built to protect local residents around the fortress during emergency. It stretches out to Seoul Metropolitan City and Goyang City, Gyeonggi-do Province. Out of the 11.6km in total length, 8.6km was built in stones and 3.0km is natural bedrocks. Surveys have identified fortress walls, lookouts, gates and guard posts. Starting with the restoration of the Great West Gate in 1958, repair and maintenance work has been done on a consistent basis. Additional sites were also found in inside of the fortress: a king's emergency palace, a maintenance building, a Buddhist monk soldiers' temple (Residing monks in the temple not only maintained the fortress but also protected the fortress from any foreign invasion.), a storage for weapons and other military supplies. The excavation work for the emergency palace site had been completed and it is currently undergoing maintenance. Excavation and maintenance efforts have also been facilitated for the other sites on a constant basis but more work still needs to be done.



Postcard 1
Seoul Fortress Wall on Mt Bugaksan sent using a 2015 Year of Sheep stamp and special sheep cancellation. Thanks to Park of South Korea.




Postcard 2
Nice night view postcard of Namdaemun Gate, officially known as the Sungnyemun (literally Gate of Exalted Ceremonies), is one of the Eight Gates in the Fortress Wall of Seoul, South Korea, which surrounded the city in the Joseon Dynasty. The gate is located in Jung-gu between Seoul Station and Seoul City Plaza, with the historic 24-hour Namdaemun market is next to the gate. It was unfortunately burnt by arson in 2008 and had been rebuilt. Thanks so much to Dave of Ulsan who took time to find the Year of Ox stamp at Seoul Central Post Office. Finally, I received a postcard with a South Korean Year of Ox stamp. Kamsa hamnida Dave of USA.


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