'Chokseokru Pavilion Area at Namgang River in Jinju,' Emblematic of National Defense Spirit, to Be Designated a Scenic Site

Embracing the Scenic Beauty of Namgang and the Spirit of National Defense from the Imjin War

The National Heritage Administration announced on September 9 that it intends to designate the "Jinju Namgang Chokseokru Area," which embraces the picturesque waterway of the Namgang River and the spirit of national defense from the Imjin War, as a nationally designated natural heritage site and scenic spot. The agency will collect public opinions from various sectors for one month and finalize the designation after deliberation by the National Heritage Committee.

Panoramic view of Chokseokru Pavilion area along the Namgang River in Jinju / National Heritage Agency.

The Chokseokru area features a striking landscape where the river surface, natural rock formations, pavilions, and fortress walls appear in succession, creating a three-dimensional view. Sheer cliffs rise above the winding Namgang River, and from the Chokseokru Pavilion, visitors can enjoy an expansive view of the river scenery at a glance.

For this reason, it has long served as a central space for the pavilion culture, where envoys and guests were welcomed and banquets were held. The literary footprints of scholars from the era who exchanged ideas while appreciating the scenery are distinctly preserved. Representative writings and inscribed poems, including Ha Ryun's "Jinju Chokseokru-gi," and literary works left by Lee Gok, Lee Saek, and Kim Il-son, have been passed down to this day.

Jinju Namgang Chokseokru Area Panorama / Photo by National Heritage Administration.

This area also served as a sacred place for national defense, functioning as a natural shield during times of crisis. In particular, during the Battle of Jinju Fortress in the Imjin War, the Namgang River and its precipitous cliffs formed a natural fortress. The stories of General Kim Si-min, who led the troops to victory, and Nongae, who embraced a Japanese soldier and threw herself into the Namgang River in an act of martyrdom, add to its value as a historic site.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.