Day 41: Gongsanseong Fortress, Gongju

A bigger fortress today! Gongsanseong is a UNESCO World Heritage site under the Baekje Historic Areas. It is interesting to see this fortress situated just next to the modern part of the city. When we looked out from the fortress nowadays, it’s all modern. But the inside the fortress area was maintained as the old days. We were happy to have a chance to walk on the wall for one round.

Gongsanseong is the name of the fortified capital of Baekje, which was established after the kingdom moved its royal capital from Hanseong (present-day Seoul) to Ungjin (present-day Gongju) in 475. Built at a strategic location consisting of the ridges and valleys of Gongsan Mountain (110 meters) beside the Geumgang Rive, the fortress walls had a perimeter of 2,660 meters.

The original structure was a combination of earthen and stone walls, but it was rebuilt only in stone during the Joseon period 1392-1910, The fortress was originally called Ungjinseong, but was renamed as Gongsanseong during the Goryeo period, and again as Ssangsusanseong after the reign of King Injo.Read more