GANGHWA COUNTY

A dondae is a small observation and defense facility built of stone or earth along a coastline or border area. Soldiers stood guard inside these outposts, monitoring and responding to suspicious activities, including enemy reconnaissance, and used the weapons stored there to defend against attacks. During the Joseon period, 53 stone dondae outposts were constructed along the coast of Ganghwa Island. Gapgotdon Outpost was one of 48 dondae outposts completed in May 1679, the fifth year of the reign of King Sukjong. The 48 dondae outposts were built in approximately 80 days by 8,900 Buddhist monk-soldiers from Hwanghae-do, Gangwon-do, and Hamgyeong-do and 4,262 soldiers of the Royal Guard Command. The project was planned and supervised by Kim Seok-ju, the Minister of War, while Yun I-je, the magistrate of Ganghwa, oversaw its implementation. Gapgotdon Outpost was under the jurisdiction of Jemuljin, together with Manghae Dondae, Jeseung Dondae, and Yeomju Dondae. Its importance was heightened by its location near a major gateway into Ganghwa. The original Gapgotdon Outpost, which had gun emplacements, stood on a hill north of the entrance to the old Ganghwa Bridge. The site currently designated as a Historic Site under the name Gapgotdon Outpost forms part of Jemuljin and the Outer Wall of Ganghwa Fortress.