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.
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