Bongdon (Beacon Tower)

Completed in 1796, the Bongdon (Beacon Tower) of Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon was a military signal system that used torches at night and smoke during the day. Unlike typical beacon towers, which were built as separate facilities on mountain peaks for better visibility, the Bongdon has a unique construction method. It protrudes outward from a section of the Hwaseong Fortress wall, with a granite foundation and a brick upper part built higher than the wall. This style is rare in Korean fortress architecture. The Bongdon of Hwaseong Fortress is equipped with embrasures and loopholes for defense against enemy attacks, as well as a heated room (ondol) and storage for the beacon soldiers. The signal system operated from the first beacon station in the south: normally, one beacon was raised day and night; when enemy forces appeared near the border, two beacons were raised; when they reached the border, three; when they crossed the border, four; and when battle began, all five were raised.

Address: 153 Namsu-dong, Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do