The New Capital of Baekje, Ungjin Fortress

This is the fortress that surrounded the capital of Baekje. The kingdom of Baekje ruled the southwestern part of the Korean Peninsula from 18 B.C. to 660 A.D. The fortress is 2.6 kilometers in circumference, and takes approximately an hour to walk around. There are some hilly sections but it is worth the effort just to take in the splendid view of Gongju, the second capital of Baekje, and the surrounding area. Shall we start our walking tour around the historic capital of Baekje?

Baekje’s capital was originally established near modern-day Seoul. However, an invasion by Goguryeo forced the people of Baekje to abandon their 500-year-old city. The kingdom of Goguryeo possessed great military strength, and controlled the northern part of the Korean Peninsula and the northeast of China. The king of Baekje was killed in the battle and Baekje finally surrendered the Seoul area to Goguryeo, whereupon it relocated its capital to the Gongju region and built this fortress.

The fortress is bordered by a river and low mountains, and as such was the ideal location in which the weakened Baekje could recover. The location conferred a defensive advantage and also permitted ease of access. In this new capital, the people of Baekje were able to forget their painful past and regenerate their kingdom, thus beginning the grand era of Gongju.

Gongsan Fortress surrounds the former sites of the royal palace, pond and arbor. If you visit between April and October, make sure not to miss the Baekje changing of the guard ceremony!


Gongsan Fortress and the Tomb of King Muryeong

This nest-shaped Baekje fortress was constructed to defend the capital, Gongju, against enemy attacks.

Gongju was the capital city of Baekje for 63 years until the capital was relocated yet again, this time to Buyeo. Here, Baekje recovered its strength and resolved to restore its depleted territory. Most critically, Baekje made a considerable effort to improve social integration. The political environment was in turmoil due to conflicts between the existing rulers and local tribes. Amid the aggravated political crisis, the king was assassinated as a result of a power struggle, and so the conflicts continued without resolution. Fortunately, a capable, powerful king, King Muryeong, ascended to the throne after the assassination. Baekje was in dire need of such a figure during the Gongju era.

The ascendance of King Muryeong heralded the revival of Baekje. To resolve the conflicts between the members of the nobility and to restore the balance of power, the king appointed nobles from both the old establishment and the new regime. He engaged various members of the royal family as local officials, thus placing them under his direct control. The power of the monarchy was reinforced and, due to this stabilizing influence, King Muryeong was able to develop the Geumgang River basin to prevent flooding and establish irrigation systems to create additional arable land. He supported the settlement of migrants in the region and established a taxation system for the collection of revenue. After achieving greater social integration, the king endeavored to regain control of the land appropriated by the enemy.

The kingdom, which had fled defeated to Gongju, now experienced a dramatic revival. The splendid culture of Baekje in Gongju was revealed to the world after the accidental discovery of the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong in 1971. You can visit his tomb in Gongju, so why not take the time to look around the area?


Last Hope of Baekje, Gongsan Fortress

This fortress is where the final battle of Baekje took place. In 660, when the Silla-Chinese alliance invaded Baekje, the king of Baekje escaped from the third capital, Buyeo, and sought refuge here in Gongsan Fortress. Prior to that, in 475, the king of Baekje had fled here after Goguryeo’s invasion of the original capital. And on this occasion again, the desperate kingdom of Baekje prepared to fight for its survival in this very spot.

However, after being betrayed by a servant, the king of Baekje was unable to resist the Silla-Chinese alliance and was forced to surrender. The king, the princes, 88 ministers and generals, and 12,000 of his people were taken to China as prisoners of war.

Even after their defeat, the remaining citizens of Baekje continued to fight for independence. While they were besieged in the fortress, they crowned a new king and fiercely resisted their invaders. Despite their determined resistance, the Baekje revival finally came to an end four years later.

Founded in 18 B.C., the kingdom was once powerful enough to export its elegant, splendid culture to other nations such as Japan and Silla. But, 681 years later, Baekje vanished into the mists of time in 663.