Conference to revisit excavation findings and historical significance, explore preservation and utilization plans
Haenam-gun will hold an academic conference Nov. 6 at the Myeongnyang Hall of Hotel Uldolsori at the Usuyeong tourist complex, under the theme "The Utilization and Value of Haenam's Jeolla Right Naval Base in 2026."
The conference marks the 10th anniversary of the Jeolla Right Naval Base's designation as a historic site. It aims to revisit excavation results from the past decade and reassess the site's historical significance. Participants will examine the role the base played in the Joseon-era naval defense system, review the achievements of successive Jeolla Right Naval commanders, and explore plans for systematic preservation, restoration and future use.
Presentation topics include the survey status and characteristics of the fortress walls at the Haenam Jeolla Right Naval Base; excavation findings and spatial composition of the site; changes in the coastal defense system during the early Joseon period and the base's role within it; an analysis and supplementation of the roster of Jeolla Right Naval commanders and a review of their activities; and restoration and utilization plans for the site.
A panel discussion will follow the presentations, with specialists joining to examine the historical value of the Jeolla Right Naval Base in depth and explore directions for the site's restoration and use.
Lee Su-gyeong, a member of Haenam-gun's Local Cultural Heritage Committee, said the conference carries particular meaning. "In January, we shed light on the historical resources related to the Battle of Myeongnyang and the contributions of the Jeolla Right Naval commanders and local residents of Haenam during the Imjin War," she said. "This time, we look at the Joseon naval defense system and the historical value of the site through the lens of excavation findings at the Jeolla Right Naval Base." She added that she hopes continued research into the site and its associated figures will raise Haenam's historical profile and lead to systematic preservation and sustainable use of the base.
The Haenam Jeolla Right Naval Base, located in Munae-myeon, Haenam-gun, was designated National Historic Site No. 535 in 2016.
Situated at a strategic point where the Yellow Sea meets the South Sea, the base was established in 1440, the 22nd year of King Sejong's reign, as the main headquarters of the Jeolla Province naval forces. It served as the supreme command of the Jeolla Right Province navy, overseeing coastal defense across 14 jurisdictions along the shoreline, until 1895, the 32nd year of King Gojong's reign, when the Korean Empire reorganized its military along modern lines.
The base is particularly noted as the rear stronghold for Admiral Yi Sun-sin's decisive victory at the Battle of Myeongnyang at Uldolmok during the second Japanese invasion of 1597. It is regarded as a site of outstanding historical and academic value for the study of changes and developments in the Joseon naval system, as well as research into military history and fortress history.
A county official said the event would be "a meaningful occasion to share the accumulated research findings with residents and experts as we mark the 10th anniversary of the historic site designation," adding that the county would "work to systematically restore the Jeolla Right Naval Base and develop it as a sustainable cultural heritage resource, drawing on the wide range of views presented."
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