An outpost, called dondae in Korean, was a small camp set up at a distance from a main military station. It was used to monitor the enemies’ movements and to stand guard against unauthorized intrusions and surprise attacks.
In 1679, during the Joseon dynasty, Minister of Military Affairs, Kim Seok-ju (1634-1684), recommended the construction of military outposts in Ganghwado Island to King Sukjong. A local magistrate, Yun I-je (1628-1701), oversaw the construction of 48 outposts. Six additional outposts were built later. These outposts were constructed on the coastal upland of Ganghwado, with artillery emplacement surrounded by high stone walls.
Ganghwado Island has been a strategic military defense location for over a millennia. It is located at the mouth of the Imjin and Han Rivers, which pass by the capitals of the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392), Gaeseong, and the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910), Hanyang (present-day Seoul). It was the temporary capital of Goryeo during the Mongol invasions from 1232-1270. The famous Incheon Landing of the Korean War also occurred near here, and today it lies along the border with North Korea.
