Tracing Geoje Maritime History on the Blue Sea | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

1973년 10월, 한반도 동남쪽 거제도 옥포만에서 기공하여 81년에 종합 준공한 대우조선해양은 각종 선박과 해양 플랜트, 시추선, 부유식 원유생산설비, 잠수함, 구축함 등을 건조하는 세계 초일류 조선해양전문기업이다. 130만평의 넓은 부지 위에 세계 최대 1백만톤급 도크와 900톤 골리앗 크레인 등의 최적설비로 기술개발을 거듭해 고기술 선박건조에 탁월한 능력을 가지고 있다.

Geoje Oksan Fortress Site is a teomoe-style mountain fortress that encircles the summit area of Sujeongbong (altitude 143m) on the slopes of Gyeryongsan in Geoje in an oval shape, with the east side wide and the west side narrow in a gourd shape. In the Joseon Dynasty, it was called Sujeongbongseong, and now it is called Oksanseong following the phrase "Oksan Geumseong" engraved on a rock at the west gate entrance. The area around Geoje-myeon where Oksanseong is located was moved from the Gohyeon area to Geoje-myeon as the town center in 1663 (the 4th year of King Hyeonjong's reign) and remained the location of the Geojehyeon government office until the late Joseon period. According to the inscription on the fortress stone inside, the fortress was built in 1873 (the 10th year of King Gojong's reign) by the combined efforts of Geoje residents, making it the most recently constructed mountain fortress in Korea; however, relics from the 7th century were discovered during excavations in 2017 and 2020, confirming that the original construction dates back to before the 7th century Unified Silla period. Stones for the fortress were sourced from nearby Gyeryongsan and adjacent hills, using small unshaped stones, and the fortress walls remain well preserved in their original state. There are two gate sites, the west and east gates, both well preserved in their original form, with the entrance to the fortress made as a rectangular double wall inner fortress protecting the gate, with stone steps allowing access inside. Inside the fortress remain multiple building sites, water collection facilities, and storage facilities for stones used in stone-throwing.

To commemorate the 1592 Okpo naval victory and to pass down Admiral Yi Sun-sin's spirit to future generations, the groundbreaking ceremony was held in December 1991 at the historic Okpo Bay. A 30-meter-tall memorial tower, an altar shaped like the character for 'loyalty' with Admiral Yi Sun-sin's portrait, Okporu pavilion, an octagonal pavilion, and an exhibition hall were constructed, and the Okpo Victory Memorial Park was completed in June 1996. The exhibition hall displays relics related to Admiral Yi Sun-sin, including naval battle maps from the Battle of Okpo. Okporu serves as a lookout pavilion. Every year, a memorial ceremony for Admiral Yi Sun-sin is held in the park, and around June 16, the Okpo Victory Memorial Festival takes place for about three days.

This is one of the manned lighthouses constructed in the late Joseon period, which began operation in December 1909 and was designated as a tangible cultural asset of Busan Gwangyeoksi on September 16, 2003. It has a Gothic style, resembling French lighthouse designs. The entrance features a projecting sloped porch made of wood, matching the width of the entrance stairs, and the upper plaque is carved with the plum blossom pattern, a symbol of the Joseon royal family, making it a structure blending Korean, Japanese, and European architectural styles. It is one of the first buildings to use modern Western architectural styles and materials, and because it preserves much of its original form compared to other lighthouses, it is a cultural asset notable for its historical and architectural value.