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Yeoncheon_Horogoru Fortress Site

Contradiction in usage


The name, “Horogoru,” originated from “Horoha,” which was the what Imjingang River area was called since the period of the Three Kingdoms. Horogoru Fortress Site was a military strategic point built by Goguryeo to fight against the foreign invasion. But after Gorugyeo collapsed and Silla took over the area, much of it was damaged but repaired during Silla period in its own way. Then, due to the outbreak of the Korean War, a part of the fortress walls was exposed, even the original walls built by Goguryeo. A great number of artifacts were discovered from Horogoru Site, which led to the area being designated as the Historic Site No. 467 in January 2006.



There is a stone wall in the back of Horogoru Fortress Site and, as you hike up along the wall, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Imjingang River. What could have the soldiers protecting this fortress been thinking? Maybe they either wished the battle to be over with or thought of their families at home while gazing at the moon and stars reflected on the Imjingang water. Maybe they had no time to even look at the river because they had to constantly defend against swords and rocks. At a place marked with such ferocity, I felt a certain contradiction.



Turning away from Imjingang and looking below, a stone on which “Unification Wisher” is written was seen. My heart sank as I realized the fortress site, which was built to block the foreign invasion, was turning its back against its own people today. In mid-September every year when sunflowers are in full bloom around Horogoru, a festival wishing for unification of the Korean Peninsula is held. Many tourists from different regions visit the site to enjoy the beauty of the sunflowers and pray for unification.



Written and photos by Ko Yeon-joo

세부정보

  • Horogoru Fortress Site

    Address/ 1258, Wondang-ri, Jangnam-myeon, Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do

    Contact/ 031-839-2144

    Hours of operation/ Open year-round

    Closed on/ Mondays, Tuesdays, New Year’s Day, Korean New Year’s Day, Chuseok Day

    Note/ Horogoru PR Hall Viewing hours Summer (May-October) 10:00-18:00 Winter (November-April) 10:00-17:00 (Last admission: 30 minutes prior to closing)

    Website/ None

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