Mujang-hyeon Government Office and Town Walls (Gochang)

About this place

Mujang Eupseong is a flatland fortress of approximately 1.2 km in length, built in 1417 by Kim No, the military commander of Mujang Garrison, when the Mujang Garrison was given administrative functions. The south gate Jinmuru is a two-story three-bay-front, two-bay-side building, and the east gate site is also well preserved. The moat (haeji) surrounding the fortress is about 4 m wide and 574 m long, with only traces remaining. Buildings inside the walls include a government guest house (gaeksa) and a local office (dongheon). According to historical records, the fortress perimeter was 1,470 cheok (about 441 m), height 7 cheok (about 2 m), with a moat perimeter of 2,127 cheok (about 638 m) and two gates, with notes that the fortress needed to be expanded. The fortress, long believed to have been built entirely of earth, was found during construction to have sections of mixed earth-and-stone construction. According to records discovered in 1915, in the 17th year of King Taejong (1417), military commander Kim Jeo-rae mobilized over 20,000 local residents and monks from various counties and constructed it from February to May, taking exactly four months. Mujang Eupseong also holds historical significance as the site where the Donghak Peasant Revolution of 1894 first arose. It is an important resource for studying the form of old Joseon-era walled towns.