Jongbangsan Fort, located in Sariwon, North Hwanghae Province, is a historic mountain fortress dating back to the Koryo Dynasty (918-1392). With a circumference of 12 kilometers, it was strategically built using the rugged terrain of Mt. Jongbang to repel foreign invasions. The fort was reconstructed in 1637.
As the most important fortress in Hwanghae Province, Jongbangsan Fort controlled the main passage running north to south along Korea’s western coastal region. It was constructed using roughly dressed flat stones, with most of the walls reinforced only on the exterior. However, the section around the Nam Gate, which spans a valley, was built with stone on both sides for added strength.
The fortress walls stand five to six meters high on average, but in the southern section, where the Nam Gate is located at the lowest point, they reach over ten meters. At the top, 1.3-meter-high zigzag battlements were designed with openings spaced roughly two meters apart, allowing defenders to fire guns and artillery at both long and short ranges.
Each of the four cardinal directions features a gate crowned by an imposing tower. Historical records indicate that a narrow valley cut through the fort, with a path running north to south along its eastern wall.
Inside the fort, command headquarters oversaw defensive positions on both flanks. Jongbangsan Fort played a crucial role in repelling foreign invasions, particularly during the Imjin Patriotic War (1592-1598) and other conflicts.
