Geumgok-dong Iron Production Site

The Geumgok-dong Iron Production Site in Gwangju is named after the place name Geumgok (金谷), which means 'iron valley,' and the site had long been expected to yield remains due to the presence of building foundation stones and numerous iron slags around the area. The site is known to have been a weapon manufacturing center associated with the righteous army activities of General Kim Deok-ryeong (1567–1596) during the Imjin War (Japanese invasions of Korea, 1592–1598).

The area around the Geumgok-dong Iron Production Site features a wide distribution of fine-grained granite containing iron oxide, making it a region where iron sand, presumed to have formed from this parent rock, could be collected. Additionally, the site had favorable conditions for securing abundant charcoal for iron smelting fuel within Mudeungsan Mountain.