Haemieupseong Walled Town, Seosan

Korea.net / Korean Culture and Information Service (Jeon Han) · CC BY-SA 2.0

One of Korea's best-preserved county fortresses — and a place of Catholic martyrdom.

Haemieupseong is the kind of fortress that enclosed a whole settlement rather than a garrison, and it is among the three best preserved in the country: five-metre stone walls running nearly two kilometres, with the magistrate's office, granaries, thatched houses and an ancient zelkova tree inside. It was beneath that tree that thousands of Catholics were executed in the 19th century — Pope Francis came here in 2014. Today the grounds host folk games and costumed artisans at work.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Haemieupseong Walled Town, Seosan?

April–June and September–November

How much does it cost to visit Haemieupseong Walled Town, Seosan?

Free, including parking

How long do you need at Haemieupseong Walled Town, Seosan?

1.5–2 hours

What are the opening hours of Haemieupseong Walled Town, Seosan?

05:00–21:00 (March–October), 06:00–19:00 (November–February), open year-round

Did you know

Built between 1417 and 1421; the wall runs about 1.8 km.
One of the best-preserved walled county towns (eupseong) in Korea.
A site of 19th-century Catholic martyrdom.
Pope Francis visited in 2014 for Asian Youth Day.

Travel tips

Entry is free and it stays open late, when the walls are lit.
Archery and costume experiences are offered to visitors.
Combine with the Seosan rock-carved Buddha triad nearby.

Source: https://korean.visitkorea.or.kr/detail/ms_detail.do?cotid=ef24ef32-cdd3-42a8-8fcb-bee4afa4c458

Updated: 2026-08-04