Dongnaeeupseong
Goryeo-era fortress in Busan, site of a major siege.
Dongnaeeupseong is a Goryeo-era Korean fortress located in Dongnae District, Busan, South Korea, on the mountain Maansan. It was lived in and used for many centuries, with a period of disuse from around the 17th to mid-18th centuries, and ceased being used in the mid-20th century. Now a popular tourist attraction, it is significant as a site of the Siege of Dongnae during the 1592–1598 Japanese invasions of Korea and as a restored historical landmark.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Dongnae District, Busan, South Korea
- Condition
- Reconstructed, serves as historic site
- Battles
- Siege of Dongnae
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
A fortress existed in the area at latest during the Goryeo period. Construction work took place in 1387 and continued for over a month. In 1446, during the Joseon period, a stone wall was constructed. The fortress was the site of the Siege of Dongnae during the 1592–1598 Japanese invasions of Korea, after which it was destroyed and left neglected for centuries. In 1731, the fortress was rebuilt and a town was put inside, with 52,003 people mobilized for the construction work. Beginning in 1870, work was done to rebuild the main wall and turrets in anticipation of a potential Japanese invasion. The fortress was partially demolished during the 1910–1945 Japanese colonial period, with walls between the west and south gates torn down.
Reader's Guide
Dongnaeeupseong's significance lies in its long history as a fortified settlement and its role in the 1592–1598 Japanese invasions, particularly the Siege of Dongnae. After centuries of neglect following its destruction, it was rebuilt in 1731 and later reinforced in the 1870s due to fears of another Japanese invasion. The fortress was partially demolished during the Japanese colonial period, but restoration efforts by the Busan Metropolitan Government began in 1979. Over 20 archaeological investigations from then until 2022 confirmed the fortress's facilities and yielded relics and human remains from the Japanese invasions, some displayed at Suan station. The fortress is roughly oval with six gates, inner and outer walls, and 2.7 km of walls, of which 1.3 km were lost to urbanization. Its foundations allowed reconstruction in its original shape. Now close to a residential area, it attracts locals and tourists, with night lighting for walking trails. A Dongnaeeupseong History Festival is held there, featuring history programs, traditional games, and performances.
Did You Know?
- 52,003 people were mobilized for the fortress's reconstruction in 1731.
- More than 20 archaeological investigations were conducted at the fortress from 1979 to 2022.
- Some relics and human remains from the Japanese invasions are displayed at Suan station on Busan Metro Line 4.
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