Built during the Joseon Dynasty, Namhansanseong Fortress is recognized as a national historic site of Korea and a world cultural heritage.
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| Namhansanseong Fortress was built during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) and dates back about 2,000 years. (Source: Korea's Hidden Gem) |
Namhansanseong Fortress is located at the center of Namhan Mountain, a mountain range that runs through three cities: Gwangju, Seongnam, and Hanam in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.
Built at an altitude of 480 meters above sea level, the castle dates back about 2,000 years and was used as a defense area during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).
The original purpose of Namhansanseong was to protect the capital Hanyang (Hanyang - the old name of today's capital Seoul). In December 1636, the Qing Dynasty brought 100,000 troops across the Yalu River to invade the territory, and the 16th king of Joseon took refuge with his courtiers at Namhansanseong Fortress.
Given its historical significance, the Korean government recognized Namhansanseong Fortress as a national historical site in 1963, shortly after the Cultural Heritage Conservation Law came into effect. In June 2014, UNESCO honored Namhansanseong Fortress of the kimchi land as a world cultural heritage.
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| In June 2014, UNESCO recognized Namhansanseong Fortress as a world cultural heritage. (Source: Korea's Hidden Gem) |
The total length of the project is 11.76km, the main wall is 9.5km long and the outer wall is 2.71km long. The citadel is divided into two areas: the wall and the palace area - the separate palace, where the king stays when he goes on a tour or the Thu Ngu Truong Dai palace - built for military purposes.
In addition to the four main gates: East, West, South, North, the citadel also has 16 secret gates, where reinforcements are welcomed, weapons and food are received.
The walls had many different shapes and roles, such as wonseong (main wall), weseong (outer wall), chiseong (hemorrhoid wall), ongseong (inner wall). The main wall was the main wall. After being attacked, King Injo ordered the construction of the outer wall, the outer wall, for protection.
There are also low walls on the citadel, built together like a jar, to protect the city gate and prevent the first attack of the enemy.
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| The construction of Namhansanseong Fortress on the mountain shows that Korea's military and defense technology during the Joseon period was greatly advanced, not only achieving high aesthetic value but also being a solid defense structure. (Source: Korea's Hidden Gem) |
In order to preserve and promote the beauty of the nation's culture and historical relics, the Korean government has designated the Namhansanseong Korea Culture and Tourism Initiative (NCTI) as the main agency responsible for the on-site management and conservation of Namhansanseong and other cultural heritages in the area. NCTI is responsible for all project implementation, including short- to long-term conservation planning, repair, excavation, research, survey, education, and monitoring.
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