GANGHWA COUNTY

Chojijin Fortress

This fortress was built in the 7th year of King Hyojong (1656) for the purpose of national defence against seashore attack of any foreign enemies. This is a place of battles including the invasion of French (for the reason of catholic suppression) in October 1866 in the 3rd year of king Gojong, the invasion by the American Asia fleet under commander Roger forcing the Joseon for the opening of port and commerce in 1871, and the collision with the Japanese ship Unyomaru in 1875 at the 12th year of King Gojong. Our army poorly equipped with far inferior weapons had to fight against the France, America and Japan forces who were advantageously equipped with surpassing fire powers when compared to our primitive level of arms.

In particular, the incident of collision by Japanese ship Unyomaru caused a major ground that Joseon had to agree on the Ganghwado treaty in the 13th year of king Gojong(1876). This incident eventually drove the country to open three ports of Incheon, Busan and Wonsan and happened to lose our sovereignty in due course. That time one commander, eleven officers, three hundred twenty soldiers and three battle ships were assigned to this fortress.

This historical relics emphatically remind us of our ancestor's suffering and struggling hardship in the defensive history of Goryeo and Joseon dynasties thereafter these fortresses and camps were mended in 1973 and cannons of those days are now displayed for an educational use to raise patriotism and spirit of defence.