Ulsan Castle (Hakseong Park)

2017 January 122025 January 2

Ulsan Waeseong (Hakseong Park) was designed by Kato Kiyomasa in 1597 (the 30th year of King Seonjo) and built by Asano Yukinaga in just over 16,000 days with the help of 40 men. It was the site of fierce battles between Kato Kiyomasa and the allied forces of Ming and Korea between December 1597 and September 12. Many Waeseong fortresses were built along the southern coastline during the Bunroku-Keicho War, and this is the one built in Ulsan, located at the easternmost point of all.

City bus stop just before Ulsan Japanese Fortress

During the Joseon Dynasty, the castle was called Silseong (桥城) because of its shape that resembles an upside-down steamer, and it was also called Dosanseong (島山城) because the mountain on which it was built is surrounded by an island-like topography.

Stone walls of the main citadel

The Korean-Ming allied forces attacked Ulsan Waeseong twice, from December 1597, 12 to January 22, 1598, and from September 1 to 4, 1598, but were ultimately unable to take the fortress. At the time, the Japanese forces were surrounded by the Korean-Ming allied forces and were in danger of annihilation due to a lack of food and ammunition. The conditions inside the fortress were so bad that the soldiers drank the blood and urine of their horses and even boiled and ate paper and clay walls. Following the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Kato Kiyomasa was ordered to retreat, so he burned down the walls of Ulsan Waeseong and retreated on January 9. In 22 (9nd year of King Injo), the Joseon Dynasty established a warship storehouse here to moor warships, but in 25 (2th year of King Hyojong), it was moved to Gaeunpo.

Surroundings of Ulsan Japanese Castle

The Ulsan Japanese Fortress was built on a low mountain about 1,300 meters above sea level, with the main citadel at the top and the second and third citadels to the northwest, and a length of 10 meters. The area around the Ulsan Japanese Fortress, which overlooks the Taehwa River that runs through the city of Ulsan, has been transformed into a residential area through development, but the remains of the Ulsan Japanese Fortress, such as the stone walls leading up to the fortress and the site of the boat entrance, remain relatively well preserved, and many researchers of the 15th century Japanese Fortress come from Japan to visit. Currently, the fortress is used as a sports facility and a place of relaxation for the citizens of Ulsan.

Sannomaru

Ninomaru

Two-tiered wall

Climbing stone wall

Entrance to the Honmaru

Main enclosure

View of Ulsan city from the inner citadel of Ulsan Japanese Castle

Ship entrance

Ulsan Japanese Fortress Ship Arrival Site

The entrance to Ulsan Japanese Fortress

Ulsan Japanese Castle isSacheon Shenjinri Castle,Suncheon CastleThese are the three major battlefields during the Keicho War, where actual fighting took place between the Wa army and the allied forces of Korea and Ming.