History trip meeting both Joseon and modern times | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

Namhanseong Provincial Park encompasses Namhanseong Fortress, one of the four major fortresses that protected Hanyang (present-day Seoul). The four fortresses surrounded the capital: Gaeseong to the north, Suwon to the south, Ganghwa to the west, and Gwangju to the east, where Namhanseong Fortress is located. It is situated on Namhan Mountain, 24 km southeast of Seoul and 6 km northeast of Seongnam City. The fortress walls extend a total of 12.4 km (main fortress 8.9 km, outer fortress 3.2 km, Sin Nam fortress 0.2 km), with a height of 7.3 meters. Historically, it is recorded as being King Onjo’s royal castle over 2,000 years ago (King Dongmyeong of Goguryeo's son and the founder of Baekje). Also, during the Silla–Tang War in the 13th year of King Munmu of Silla (673), a castle called Jujangseong was built in Hansanju. Utilizing this ancient site, the fortress was repeatedly repaired and rebuilt by later generations, with extensive construction during the reign of King Gwanghaegun of Joseon (1621). The stone walls of Namhanseong are about 12 km in circumference, constructed with natural stones laid with larger stones at the bottom and smaller stones on top. There were four gates and gatepavilions (munru) on each cardinal direction, 16 secret gates (ammun), and four watchtowers (jangdae) built on the east, west, south, and north sides. Inside the fortress, the Suo Office was established alongside government offices, warehouses, and the temporary royal palace (haenggung). The haenggung consisted of 252 rooms in total: 73 in the upper palace, 154 in the lower palace, and 26 in the left quarters. Eighty wells and 45 springs were created, and the administrative office of Gwangju-eup was relocated inside the fortress. The fortress’s importance and its capacity to accommodate residents can be inferred. In the first military exercise after the fortress’s construction (Injo 17th year, 1639), 12,700 troops participated. Currently, only a few buildings remain within the fortress, including the East and South Gates, West Jangdae, Hyeonjeolsa, Yeonmugwan, Janggyungsa, Jisudang, Yeongwoljeong, Chimkwaejeong, Sungnyeoljeon General Yi Seo’s shrine, walls, towers, and ramparts. Among these, the four main gates, Suwojangdae, and parts of the fortress wall near the West Gate are well preserved in their original form. Namhanseong is designated as a historic site and provincial park.

Namhan Fortress Traditional Food Village is a traditional food street established near Namhansanseong World Heritage Center on Namhansanseong-ro, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do. Namhansanseong, a key military stronghold in Korean history since the Three Kingdoms period, was completed during the 16th King Injo of the Joseon Dynasty and has over 300 years of history as a national defense fortress from Seonjo to Sunjo. As it is part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, there is much to see, and around Namhansanseong, there are many places to experience traditional Korean houses and culture. This place, where about 70 types of food in traditional hanok style buildings gather, offers traditional dishes such as rice, acorn jelly, native chicken, and spicy braised chicken. Visitors can enjoy fine dining while admiring the beautiful hanok scenery, making it a popular destination for travelers to enjoy the natural views throughout all four seasons.

Cheonjinaam Holy Ground is a historically significant site as the birthplace of Korean Catholicism, housing the remains of the country's founding Catholic ancestors (Ibyeok, Jeong Yak-jong, Gwon Cheol-sin, Gwon Il-sin, Lee Seung-hoon). The site features numerous attractions including a statue of the Virgin Mary, the site of Cheonjinaam Cathedral, and the Virgin Mary Church. On an area of approximately 360,000 pyeong, with 30,000 pyeong set aside for the cathedral construction site, tens of thousands of believers gather annually to hold commemorative events celebrating the founding of the Korean Catholic Church.

Paldang Lake is a lake spanning Toechon-myeon and Namjong-myeon in Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do. It is a lake formed by the confluence of the Namhan River, Bukhan River, and Gyeongan Stream, created by the construction of a dam in 1973. In the past, it was a center of water transportation trade and supplies water to 27 million residents in the metropolitan area. Currently, it serves as a recreational space for metropolitan residents, known for its beautiful natural scenery where mountains and water harmonize. (Source: Gyeonggi Provincial Government)

Gwangju Joseon Baekja Kiln Site is a kiln site for firing ceramics during the Joseon Dynasty located in Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do, designated as a Historic Site of South Korea in 1985. It was excavated in 1986 during the construction of the Jungbu Expressway and is also called the 'Beoncheon-ri No. 5 Kiln.' It was first established in 1467, the 13th year of King Sejo's reign, by royal order and continued for about 500 years. From the mid-1400s, it produced the best-quality Joseon white porcelain. Covering an area of 382,738㎡, about 300 kiln sites remain, 68 of which are designated and managed as national cultural heritage historic sites. This site is known as the oldest and largest white porcelain kiln site in East Asia. The Gwangju area was a central location for producing high-quality white porcelain from the early to late Joseon period, making it a highly valuable region for research in Joseon ceramic history. In addition to the kiln and workshop sites, there is a space organized to display ceramics and related exhibits, including kiln excavations, types of ceramics produced here, information, artifacts, and excavated items.