Busanjin was a strategic military base where, in the 7th year of King Taejong's reign (1407), the naval command of the left-wing Gyeongsang Province was stationed to defend the southeast coast of Korea. In the 21st year of King Seongjong's reign (1490), Busanjinseong Fortress was built beneath Mount Jeungsan to protect numerous warships, naval forces, and supplies.
In the 25th year of King Seonjo's reign (1592), during the Imjin War, the Japanese general Mori Terumoto destroyed Busanjinseong Fortress and built the main fortress, Jeungsan Waeseong Fortress, on the summit of Mount Jeungsan, as well as a branch fortress (a fortress built outside the main fortress) on the southeast coast to defend the main fortress. After the war, in the 40th year of King Seonjo's reign (1607), the Joseon Navy relocated its base to Jiseong and renamed it Busanjinseong. The perimeter of the Busanjinseong fortress in use at that time was approximately 2.25 km. The four gates to the east, west, south, and north were Jindongmun (鎮東門), Geumrugwan (金壘關), Jinnammun (鎮南門), and Gujangru (龜藏樓), and a gate tower (a tall house or attic built on top of a gate) was built. At the top of the castle, at Jaseongdae, they also built Mangongdan in memory of Mansedeok, a Ming general who fought in the Imjin War.
Afterward, the castle was demolished during the Japanese colonial period as part of the urban development plan, and most of its original appearance was lost. However, in 1974, as part of the Busanjinseong Fortress cleanup project, the Geunchunmun East Gate (formerly Jindongmun), the Geumnu-gwan West Gate, and the Jinnamdae General's Platform were restored.
Busanjinseong Fortress is a site that preserves the 500-year history of the Joseon Navy and the ancestors who risked their lives to protect the country. It is also considered of great historical value, as it can be used to study the Japanese castle built during the Imjin War and the naval base built using the Japanese castle in the late Joseon Dynasty.
Translated by Google •
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