What is Naseong City Wall?


Naseong City Wall is an outer wall constructed to defend the Sabi capital. Along with Louyang Fortress of the Northern Wei Dynasty in China, Naseong City Wall is one of the earliest examples in East Asia of an extensive city wall that surrounds an entire capital. Although the remains of Louyang have been significantly damaged, Naseong City Wall has been preserved mostly intact, raising its outstanding universal value.

Naseong City Wall starts in the north from Busosanseong Fortress and encircles the northern and eastern parts of the city. To the west and south of Buyeo, the Geumgang River functions as a natural defensive barrier. Moreover, the naturally steep banks created by floods served as fortress walls.

In addition to its defensive role, Naseong City Wall also served a symbolic role separating the inner and outer spaces of the capital. The significance of this symbolism becomes more salient when considering the fact that the principle of burying the deceased outside the capital was the norm at that time, a fact demonstrated by the location of the Royal Tombs in Neungsan-ri outside Naseong City Wall. Even the royal family with their supreme power were forbidden to have their tombs inside the wall.

Over 6km long, Naseong City Wall consists of northern and eastern walls. The northern wall stretches from Busosanseong Fortress to Seongmok-ri; the eastern wall, from Seongmok-ri to Yeomchang-ri. Archeological surveys have been conducted for more than two decades since the 1990s, confirming valuable information including the construction period of the walls and the technology employed.

Until the 1980s, there had been no consensus as to when Naseong City Wall was built. However, based on the architectural remains and various artifacts found during later excavations, it is now thought that the construction had already begun during the Ungjin Period and was almost complete by the time the capital was relocated to Sabi. This construction period is earlier than that of Pyeongyangseong Fortress in Goguryeo and roughly the same time as that of Louyang Fortress of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Therefore, it can be said that Naseong City Wall epitomizes the early form of city walls in ancient East Asia.