Sangdangsanseong Fortress (상당산성) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Introduction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sangdangsanseong Fortress (상당산성) in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do is a fortress built along the natural slopes close to downtown Cheongju. It was comprehensively improved in 1596 (29th year of King Seonjo’s reign) during Imjinwaeran (Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592) and later remodeled into a stone fortress during the 42nd year of King Sukjong’s reign. This 4.2km-long, 3-4m-tall fortress was built with stones of various sizes, earth and sand. The fortress has three gates, located in the east, west and south respectively. The three gates remain almost intact, and all still have their gate towers. The front gate in the south, named ‘Gongnammun Gate,’ is crescent-shaped while the East and West gates are square. The East and West Command Posts also stand within the confines of the fortress itself. This fortress was designated as Historic Site No. 212 in 1970. Additionally, visitors can sample Jujube Wine (Korean traditional wine) as well as a variety of local cuisine. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current Status | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Historic Site No. 212 (Designated on October 1, 1970) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Directions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
From Cheongju Intercity/Express Bus Terminal, take Bus 717, 824, 832 or 913. Get off at Sajik Sageori Bus Stop (사직사거리). Transfer to Bus 862 to Sangdangsanseong Fortress (상당산성). (runs 16 times a day) |
Before our trips to Korea, my knowledge of Korean food was pretty much limited to kimchi , bulgogi , and japchae . My exposure to the cuisine never really went beyond that in spite of having several Korean friends, including a Korean roommate for a couple of years. I think part of it is due to how damn good Korean barbecue is. It’s so delicious that it was pretty much all I ever looked for when eating at Korean restaurants. Bulgogi for my main course, and a plate of japchae on the side. That was it. But thanks to our two trips to Seoul, in 2015 and 2017, my Korean food vocabulary has expanded to over 40 dishes. As delicious and universally appealing as Korean barbecue is, I’ve learned that there’s so much more to the cuisine than just bulgogi and galbi . Things like ganjang gejang , jokbal , and naengmyeon aren’t as well known outside of Korea but they are dishes well worth flying for. Ganjang gejang was particularly memorable. After waiting two years to try it, you’d think
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