Standing atop the fortified castle wall, I look down at the mist shrouded shapes of pine trees crowding the mountain slopes. I can easily imagine troops of armored soldiers marching their way up the steep trails towards the high stone walls. 

This is not an image of Europe that we are describing, but one of South Korea. Korea is more than just the home of kimchi, the DMZ and red-shirted soccer enthusiasts. Korea has a rich, five thousand year history that is still easily accessible to travelers. One of the favorite things many visitors enjoy experiencing are the castles that dot the Korean countryside. 

For any interested traveler heading to Seoul, there are 3 sites you should not miss. The first site is called Namhansanseong or the Namhan Mountain Fortress and is located just outside of Seoul. This site has been of major military importance since early times. Originally built as an earthen fortress about 2,000 years ago, Namhan Fortress was rebuilt many times before the current fortress was built in 1624. That latest rebuilding was prompted by the threat and eventual invasion by the Manchu army.

Another site well worth visiting is the Hwaseong Castle in Suwon. Suwon is just south of Seoul and, like Namhansanseong, is accessible via the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system. Hwaseong is considered to be one of the best preserved castles in Korea and was declared a UNESCO World Cultural site in 1998. Hwaseong was finished during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) in 1796. The fortress wall stretches for 5.74km and was built with both stone and brick. The castle was built to accommodate not only traditional weapons, i.e. arrows and spears, but also guns and cannon. Hwaseong has also seen much chaos and war which culminated in much of the fortress being burnt during the Japanese invasion in the early 1900s and partial destruction during the Korean War. Most of the fortress has since been renovated. 

The last castle can be found within Seoul itself. In 1394, King Taejo of the Joseon dynasty moved his kingdom’s capital to Seoul. In the same year, he began a massive construction project involving two to three hundred thousand workers who built a wall around the new capital. Over the years, the walls changed and evolved. A series of striking gates were constructed to allow entry to the city. Although most of the city walls were destroyed during the Japanese Colonial Period, several of the gates still remain. In the heart of Seoul’s downtown shopping district, the massive Dongdaemun (or East) gate still remains. As can be seen in the other Korean castles, Dongdaemun has the semicircle wall that was used to entrap enemies who tried to force open the gate. Reaching above the gate is the imposing, but colorful gate structure.