Beopseong was known as a good place to live because it was not only a major fish market (pasi) due to the abundant croaker caught in the Chilseon sea but also had a warehouse that stored grains from 12 different counties, with 715 households in 1895, larger than Yeonggwang-eup. Inside the fortress, there were Confucian schools (hyanggyo), three gate towers, Dongjoru, a military flag repository (gungi-go), Jinchang, Hwansanggo, Jobokgo, Bingheojeong, Bokgochang, and Gungichang. However, after numerous upheavals including the Donghak Peasant Revolution and the Imjin War, most structures burned down, leaving only traces of the fortress surrounding Jinnae-ri village, the roof of the military flag repository at the pier, and two wells. Beopseong was an important naval base and a key point for tax collection and transportation during the Joseon Dynasty, with many historical events preceding this era.
영광굴비는 예부터 임금님의 수라상에 올랐던 법성포의 대표 특산품이다. 고려 예종 때 이자겸이 영광으로 귀양 온 후 조기를 임금께 진상하며, ‘귀양살이 신세지만 결코 굴하지 않겠다’는 의미로 굴비(屈非)라 이름하였다는 설이 있다. 또한 짚으로 엮은 조기가 말릴수록 구부러지는 모습을 보고 ‘구비’라 부르던 것이 굴비로 변했다는 이야기도 전해진다.
굴비거리를 걷다 보면 집집마다 굴비를 말리는 덕장과 판매장이 늘어서 있고, 거리 곳곳에서 굴비 정식을 파는 음식점을 만날 수 있다. 법성포 굴비거리는 지역 특색에 맞는 음식문화 거리로서 관광객 유치와 지역경제 활성화를 위해 조성되었다. 이곳에서는 보리굴비, 고추장굴비, 조기매운탕 등 다양한 굴비 요리의 진미를 느낄 수 있다. 특히 한두름교는 굴비 모양의 지붕과 조형물을 설치하여 법성포의 상징성을 잘 보여준다.
203, Baekjemunhwa-ro, Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do
The spread of Buddhism on the Korean Peninsula during the Three Kingdoms Period is clear in Goguryeo (in the 2nd year of King Sosurim under the Jin general Buyeon) and Silla (during King Nulji Maripgan with the monk Mukhoja), with clear routes of transmission and initial preaching sites, but the transmission route and first arrival site of Baekje Buddhism were unclear. It has been orally passed down that the Indian monk Marananta Jonja came to Beopseongpo in Yeonggwang, preached Buddhism, and founded Beopgapsa Temple, marking the start of Baekje Buddhism. In 1998, academic verification by Yeonggwang-gun (Dongguk University) established that Yeonggwang land is the first arrival site of Baekje Buddhism. Beopseongpo Jawoo-du is the place where Indian monk Marananta first set foot in Baekje in A.D. 384, coming via the Eastern Jin dynasty of China, and it is being developed as a tourist attraction to commemorate this. The 'Beop' (法) in Beopseongpo refers to Buddhism, and 'Seong' (聖) refers to the saint Marananta. * Site area - 45,439㎡ (13,745 pyeong)
Supjaengi Garden is a park associated with the history of Beopseongpo. "Supjaengi" means a fortress made of trees. It was created to protect Beopseong Jinseong Fortress, a naval base during the Joseon dynasty, with a forest of deciduous trees, serving as a windbreak forest to protect Beopseongpo and the village. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the port while walking along the flower-filled walking trails. Every June, the Beopseongpo Danoje attracts many tourists.
Supjaengi Park is an extension of Beopseongjinseong fortress built during the reign of King Jungjong of the Joseon Dynasty. Zelkova trees and others have grown for over 300 years, forming a dense forest around the fortress. Meaning 'fortress made of forest,' Supjaengi Park is the 7th of the 9 scenic spots in Yeonggwang. It is a resting place where visitors can enjoy the beautiful views of Beopseongpo while walking along trails made through flowers and trees. Facilities including walking paths, stair-step artificial waterfalls with lights, and a large parking lot are well established, making it a popular wellness tourism course for families and couples. The trail from the forest of Beopseongjinseong continues through the flower-filled Supjaengi Flower Hill and connects to the first arrival site of Baekje Buddhism.
