Seokjugwanseong Fortress, Gurye

Basic information

Designation

Historic Site No.385

Category

Sites & Pagodas

Era

고려말~조선 중기

Designated year

1993

Location

구례군, 전라남도— 전남 구례군 토지면 송정리 산65번지 외 12필지

Coordinates

35.197358, 127.565918

The government installed a fort in Gurye in Jeolla-do to ward off the Japanese pirates in the late Goryeo Dynasty. Later, Gwak Yeong, chief commanding general of Jeolla-do, built Seokjugwanseong, a gate fortress, on the old fort in Gurye to defend the Jeolla-do region against the Japanese invaders during the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592. The northern and southern sides of the fortress meet the rough mountain ranges of Jirisan and Baegunsan mountains. Seomjingang River flows between those rocky ranges. Such topographic advantages made the fortress a very important military fortress located at the critical pass. The 736m long wall of the fortress was built with stones along the slanted mountainside, and it is 50 - 120cm tall. There are many embrasures in the wall at regular intervals, and they were used as positioning areas for the gunners and archers. The top and bottom parts of the fortress wall were piled up differently. As the only existing military gate in the Jeolla-do region, this gate fortress is regarded as very important remains that clearly show the typical fortification from the 13th century to the 16th century.

Location