Site sheds light on possible maritime base of the Sambyeolcho resistance

An aerial view of the Namhae Daejanggun site [South Gyeongsang Province]
An aerial view of the Namhae Daejanggun site [South Gyeongsang Province]

A Goryeo-era archaeological site in Seoho-ri, Seo-myeon, Namhae-gun, South Gyeongsang Province, known as the Namhae Daejanggun site, has been designated a provincial monument by South Gyeongsang Province.

Provincial authorities said Thursday the site offers a window into the Mongol invasions of the late Goryeo period, the Sambyeolcho resistance movement, and maritime defense and military activity along the southern coast. The site also suggests that the Namhae area may have served as a maritime base for the Sambyeolcho, who in 1270 defied the Goryeo court's return to Gaegyeong and continued their resistance as they moved from Ganghwado to Jindo and Jeju Island.

Excavations uncovered the remains of a mid-Goryeo structure, a five-tiered terraced platform expanded in stages, large-scale retaining walls and drainage facilities. The layout closely resembles Yongjangseong Fortress on Jindo, one of the Sambyeolcho's main strongholds.

The Gyeongnam Research Institute has conducted excavations since 2024, unearthing Goryeo-era roof tiles and celadon fragments. South Gyeongsang Province said it decided to grant monument status after a comprehensive review of the findings, the site's historical and academic significance, and the oral traditions passed down by local residents.

The province plans to conduct regular inspections of the site's condition in cooperation with Namhae-gun. It also intends to carry out additional excavations in 2027, backed by 100 million won ($73,800) in national and local government funding.

"The Namhae Daejanggun site is a heritage asset that allows us to examine the anti-Mongol struggle of the late Goryeo period and the activities of the Sambyeolcho at the local level," said Jeong Yeong-cheol, director of the South Gyeongsang Province Culture and Sports Bureau. "We will also develop plans to preserve the site and make it accessible and easy to understand for residents and visitors alike."


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