Located on Mount Namsan (남산), previously known as Mongmyeoksan (목멱산), Gyeongbongsu (경봉수) literally means 'Beacon hill in the capital'. Also known as Mongmyeoksan Bongsudae (목멱산 봉수대), meaning Mongmyeoksan Beacon Tower, it was originally one of 5 beacons on Namsan.
Part of a network of beacons all over Korea, it was used to send and receive signals (using fire in the night, and smoke in the day) from the rest of the country.
This beacon signalling system was in use at least from the third year of the reign of King Uijong, in 1149, but ceased use in 1592, when many were destroyed by the invading Japanese army. However, the Namsan Beacon Mound was retained for about 500 years from when Seoul was designated as the capital of Joseon until the 32nd year of King Gojong's reign in 1895.
The current beacons are replicas, completed in 1993. The exact location of the original beacons is not known, but the location of the replica beacons was decided using the 1834 'Cheonggudo' (청구도) map of Korea made by Kim Jeongho.
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