Imagine, if you will, a sprawling earthen wall rising from the flatlands near the Han River. This is Pungnaptoseong. It stands as a silent witness to centuries of Korean history.
Pungnaptoseong is more than just an old wall. It is a Historic Site No. 11. The wall whispers tales of the ancient Baekje kingdom.
The name Pungnaptoseong comes from the area’s old administrative name. It was once called Pungnap-ri. This was in Gwangju-gun, Gyeonggi-do. The name stuck when it became a historic site in 1963.
Originally, Pungnaptoseong stretched 3.7 kilometers. Today, about 2.2 kilometers remain. A large section collapsed in 1925 due to heavy rains. This collapse exposed a bit of its secrets.
How was Pungnaptoseong built? It was made by heaping layers of clayish soil and sand. The builders used masonry inside the wall. This prevented it from collapsing. They also built a moat and ditches as defense lines. These were 22 meters and 3 meters wide respectively.
The remaining wall stands five to nine meters tall. At its base, the wall is 60 meters wide. Experts believe the restored wall would reach 15 meters. Building such a massive fortress was no small feat. It might have taken 1.38 million people a year to construct it.
The flood of 1925 unearthed a large earthen jar. Inside were two bronze tripod cauldrons. Fragments of earthenware were also found nearby.
In 1964, a Seoul National University team investigated the northern wall. They discovered black burnished pottery. They also found cylinder-shaped pottery stands. Fragments of paddling pattern pottery also appeared.
Then, in 1997, Sun Moon University’s team found even more earthenware. This happened during a reconstruction project. The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage began an emergency excavation.
The excavation revealed Baekje palace remains. Buildings, roads, and residential areas emerged. These sites included Hyundai Riverville Apartment Complex and Gyeongdang Historical Park. Tens of thousands of earthenware pieces were found. You can now see them at the Seoul Baekje Museum.
Pungnaptoseong is considered Baekje’s royal fortress. Its large size is impressive. Many relics have been found here. Royal tombs are also nearby in Seokchon-dong and Bangi-dong. These clues point to its importance.
So, as you stand before Pungnaptoseong, remember its story. It is a story of a kingdom. It is a story of defense. It is a story of discovery.