Historic Site Related to Yun Seon-do, Haenam

Basic information

Designation

Historic Site No.432

Category

유적지

Era

조선시대 후기

Designated year

2001

Location

해남군, 전라남도— 전남 해남군 현산면 구시리 산181번지 외

Coordinates

34.503998, 126.568858

Covering the area of Geumswae-dong and Hyeonsangoseong Fortress, this site is where Yun Seon-do (penname Gosan) stayed while writing Geumswaedonggi (Record of Geumswae-dong) (Treasure No. 482-2) in 1640 (18th year of the reign of King Injo) at the age of 54. Adopted by his uncle at the age of eight, Yun Seon-do went to live with him in Haenam. He topped the state civil service exams at the age of 20. In 1616, however, as a student at the Seonggyungwan National Academy, he wrote a paper criticizing those in power; thus, he was exiled to Hamgyeong-do. He later gave up his official post and politics and, with a sizeable inheritance from his family, led a life in pursuit of the arts, building many pavilions in Buyong-dong and Geumswae-dong in Bogildo Island. Geumswae-dong comprises the inside of the fortress where the forest planted by Yun and 22 places named in Geumswaedonggi can be found. The remains include a cultural forest trail made by Yun to draw inspiration for literary creation as well as building sites and pond sites. Hyeonsangoseong Fortress is believed to have been built in the Goryeo Dynasty; archaeological features inside the fortress include the sites of the east, west, and north gates, part of the walls at the sluice gate, site of a watchtower, building sites, and embankments. As the place where Yun created his literary works, this site is valuable in the study of Korean language and literature and as a cultural site for the old fortress, little of which had been known before.

Location