Urban Planning and Development in China and Other East Asian Countries by Guanzeng Zhang & Lan Wang

Author:Guanzeng Zhang & Lan Wang
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789811308789
Publisher: Springer Singapore

Busan Fortress

The majestic mountain fortress of Busan City stands on the summit of Mt. Geumjeongsan, reminding Koreans of its glorious past. The legendary fort was previously named Dongrae Mountain Fortress. It is presumed to be built in the Three Kingdoms Era marking the fierce antagonism among the Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla dynasties. After the Japanese invasion in 1592 and the destruction by Manchu invaders in following years, the governor of Gyeongsang ordered reconstruction work to prevent any such attack in the future. The construction work was finally completed in 1707. Due to lack of proper maintenance, Geumjeong Sanseong fortress eventually fell and was restored during the reign of King Sunjo (1790–1834). Influenced by Chinese tradition, some stone tablets inscribed with Chinese characters still stand on top of the fortress, to indicate the important strategic locations.

Being the largest mountain fortress ever built in Korea, today only 4 km of walls, the four gates and four observation towers remain. The South Gate is the most visited part while the West Gate, though impressive, is difficult to reach. Geumjeong Sanseong, the largest Korean fort, played a significant role in Korean history and was duly credited as a national historic site in 1972. The winding mountain trails leading to the fortress offer a breath-taking panorama of the surrounding mountains. One can also opt for a cable car running to the top of the mountain from Geumgang Park below (Fig. 4.14).12

Fig. 4.14The Mountain Fortress of Bussan, provided by author

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