Fortress Trails

[Anchor Lead]

Namhansanseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to more than 40 hiking trails to be explored. A recent study has uncovered a clue about how these ancient trails were used many centuries ago.

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Nowadays this nameless trail is used by locals to exercise, but Joseon Dynasty monarchs used it to reach the royal tomb of King Sejong the Great. The two-meter-wide, slightly slanted trail was used for transporting kings in palanquins surrounded by a crowd of servants. Historians have found that Saeogae, a nine-kilometer uphill trail in Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do Province, was used in the past by scholars from the southeastern region of the nation to travel to state exams. The Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation reached this conclusion after studying Joseon-era maps and "The Annals of King Taejong."

[Soundbite] Shin Chang-hee(Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation) : "We have checked various ancient maps and documents as well as a map produced during Japanese colonial rule using a modern survey method to find out how the ancient trails were used."

The government of Gyeonggi-do Province plans to repair a 99-kilometer section of ancient trails around Namhansanseong Fortress and develop them into hiking paths that will be open to the public in the second half of next year.

[Soundbite] Kim Dong-joo(Gyeonggi-do Provincial Government) : "We plan to build a 30-kilometer section first. We will install a storyboard and develop programs about history."

When the historic trails are open the public, hikers will be able to enjoy the ancient fortress, which is Korea's 11th UNESCO World Heritage site, in more diverse ways.