Anheung Castle Returning to the Arms of the People After 50 Years of Being Surrounded by a Wire Fence

Access available from 2026 after discovery, restoration, and repair

(September 21 2023, ACRC)

Anheung Castle in Taean-gun will be opened to the public after 50 years of being surrounded by a protective wire fence since 1976 by the Anheung Center of the Agency for Defense Development.

On September 21, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Kim Hong-Il) mediated a collective grievance complaint of requesting for the lifting of the military facility protection area at Anheung Castle to repair and open it to the public, raised by 19,544 residents of Taean-gun during the meeting presided by Chairperson Kim Hong-Il at the Geunheung-myeon office, Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do.

Thanks to the mediation, any visitors will be allowed to access Anheung Castle starting in 2026, following the discovery and restoration of the castle.

Anheung Castle, a stone castle standing at a height of 3.5 meters height with a perimeter of 1,717 meters, that was constructed in the 16th year (1583) of King Seonjo’s reign, was a strategic point that protected the west coast. The castle holds significant value in terms of cultural assets as it has been designated as national historic site No. 560 in November 2020.

The Anheung Center of the Agency for Defense Development, a weapon testing center, was established in January 1976 and installed a protective wire fence around Anheung Castle, blocking access to areas of 777 meters, accounting for 45.3% of the castle.

The castle was designated as a protected area in December 1989 and an important national facility in August 2022. As a result, there has been no restoration and repair even in cases where the castle walls were caved in or on the verge of collapse.

In response, 19,544 people, constituting a third of Taean-gun’s residents, filed a collective grievance complaint with the ACRC, requesting the “removal of the protected area so that the castle could be opened to the public following its discovery and restoration.”

* The population of Taean-gun, Chungnam (as of July 2023): 61,023

Upon receiving the grievance complaint, ACRC implemented final mediation measures by conducting various on-site investigations, including a site visit by the Vice Chairperson, gathering residents’ opinions, and consulting with relevant agencies.

According to the mediation by ACRC, Taean-gun in Chungnam and the Agency for Defense Development will discover and restore the castle by identifying the areas to be opened to the public by 2025 and repair the remaining areas in accordance with the comprehensive maintenance plan for Anheung Castle.

The Cultural Heritage Administration will cooperate and provide support to ensure that Taean-gun discovers and restores Anheung Castle and opens it to the public in a timely manner.

In addition, Taean-gun and the Agency for Defense Development will provide support for weapon testing and evaluation to enhance national defense capabilities, and work closely to ensure the timely public opening of the castle by successfully repairing it.

ACRC Chairperson Kim Hong-Il said, “Anheung Castle symbolizes national defense capabilities of the past and Korea’s defense industry of the present. We anticipate that ly restoring and opening Anheung Castle will not only boost tourism but also strengthen our national defense capabilities.”