Shin Sung-gyeom General Historic Site: Walking in the Memory of the Battle of Gongsan in 927

The Site Left by the Battle of Gongsan in 927 at Wangsan, Dong-gu, Daegu

The Historical Site of General Sin Sung-gyeom is Daegu Metropolitan City Monument No. 1, located at the foot of Wangsan Mountain, 17, Sinsunggyeom-gil, Dong-gu, Daegu. Sin Sung-gyeom is the founder of the Pyeongsan Sin clan and is recorded as a top-tier merit subject of the founding of Goryeo, having overthrown Gung Ye and enthroned Wang Geon alongside Bae Hyeon-gyeong, Hong Yu, and Bok Ji-gyeom in 918.

In 927, the 10th year of King Taejo of Goryeo, Wang Geon fought the Battle of Gongsan against the forces of Gyeon Hwon of Later Baekje, who had invaded Silla. According to tradition, when Wang Geon was surrounded, Sin Sung-gyeom wore Wang Geon's clothes and fought in his place before dying in battle, allowing Wang Geon to escape in the meantime. This site is not merely a shrine but a place that shows the traces of the competition during the Later Three Kingdoms period reaching the southern part of Palgongsan Mountain and the Daegu area.

A 1,099-Year Record of Remembrance: Sunjeoldan, Chungryeolbi, and Pyochungsa

Within the site remain Pyochungsa Shrine, which houses the ancestral tablet and portrait of Sin Sung-gyeom (posthumous name Jangjeolgong); Sunjeoldan, an altar commemorating his martyrdom; and Chungryeolbi, a stele of loyalty. "Jangjeol" means that one's integrity is strong, and through Sin Sung-gyeom's posthumous title, one can also understand how this military hero is commemorated.

According to legend, King Taejo Wang Geon established Sunjeoldan Altar and Jimyosa Temple (Mirisa Temple) at the site of the martyrdom and granted land to protect it. Later, in 1607, Yu Yeong-sun, the governor of Gyeongsang-do, built Chungryeolsa Shrine on the site of Jimyosa Temple, and in 1672, Pyochungsa became a Royal Chartered Academy (Saaek Seowon). After disappearing due to the Decree to Abolish Confucian Academies in 1871, descendants maintained the ritual house, and the current Pyochungsa was restored in 1993.

• When visiting, it is easy to follow the flow by starting from the Haetae statues and the Hongsalmun (Red Spike Gate) and proceeding to Pyochungdan, Sunjeolbigak (Stele Pavilion), Pyochungjae, Chungryeolbi, Pyochungsa, and Sangjeoldang.
• Since it is a memorial space with wooden buildings, smoking is prohibited, and care must be taken not to damage the buildings, steles, or ritual spaces.
• The information for the Pyochungjae Traditional Experience Center states that pets and bicycles are prohibited within the historical site.

10:00–17:00, Free Admission and Parking

According to tourism information, the operating hours are daily from 10:00 to 17:00, and it is open year-round. Admission is free, on-site parking is available, and parking fees are guided as free. Since the operation of facilities and events may change, it is safer to check the opening status on the day of your visit by calling the representative number at 053-981-6407 before departing.

The official tourism information website is the Dong-gu Office tourism page at https://dong.daegu.kr/tour/. The road name address is 17, Sinsunggyeom-gil, Dong-gu, Daegu (Jimyo-dong), and the zip code is 41002. For a general visit focusing on Pyochungdan, the stele pavilion, and the shrine area, 40 to 60 minutes is sufficient; if you read the signs or walk to Donghwacheon Stream, 70 to 90 minutes is appropriate.

• Operating Hours: 10:00–17:00
• Holidays: Open year-round
• Admission Fee: Free
• Parking: Available, Free
• Restrooms: Available
• Inquiries: 053-981-6407

Check for 1 Disabled Parking Space and Level Main Entrance First

Barrier-free tourism information indicates that there is one dedicated parking space for the disabled, a level main entrance without steps, and disabled-accessible restrooms. Therefore, it is practical for wheelchair and stroller users to approach the main entrance by vehicle and then explore the flat viewing areas.

The same guide also mentions an audio guide. However, access to the interior of the shrine or around the stele pavilion may vary for the protection of cultural properties, so visitors should check the open areas and availability of guides on-site. As no regular foreign language commentary service is separately identified in official tourism information, foreign visitors are advised to prepare translation apps and a summary of the history in advance.

• Disabled Parking: 1 space
• Main Entrance: No steps
• Disabled Restrooms: Available
• Visual Impairment Support: Audio guide mentioned
• Strollers: Recommended to view starting from the flat main entrance section

Between Donghwacheon and Sangjeoldang: Time to See Summer Crape Myrtles

The Pyochungjae Traditional Experience Center is located to the right of Sangjeoldang, the lecture hall for commemorating Sin Sung-gyeom within the historical site, and Pyochungdan and Donghwacheon Stream are connected below Pyochungjae. This layout creates a path that moves from the ritual space toward the stream. Group programs at the Traditional Experience Center have been guided to include tours of old houses, Hanbok experiences, etiquette and tea ceremonies, rice cake pounding, archery, seodang (village school) experiences, and traditional games like yutnori, jegichagi, neolttwigi, and tuho.

Traditional experiences are introduced as being for groups of at least 20 people after a telephone consultation; rather than expecting on-site experiences, individual visitors should inquire about the possibility of advance reservations at 053-428-9980. Visitor reviews frequently mention crape myrtle flowers in July and August 2024, evening photography, and the spacious parking lot, but as these are personal seasonal experiences, the blooming status and crowd levels may vary depending on the date of visit.

• Pyochungjae Traditional Experience Center Inquiries: 053-428-9980
• Group Experience Criteria: Minimum 20 people, telephone consultation required
• Traditional Experience Examples: Tea ceremony, archery, rice cake pounding, tuho, yutnori
• Summer Observation Point: Crape myrtle trees in the courtyard of Oesammon Gate
• Stream Walk Point: Toward Donghwacheon Stream below Pyochungdan

A Half-Day Connecting Daegu Textile Museum (4.7km) and Otgol Village (5.6km)

The site itself does not have many exhibition halls like a large museum, so it is suitable for a short and dense schedule focusing on Goryeo history and ritual spaces. For those traveling by car, the site is introduced as being approximately 4.7km from the Daegu Textile Museum, 5.3km from Baekbul Old House, and 5.6km from Otgol Village, making it ideal to bundle with the living cultural heritage of northern Dong-gu.

Nearby dining and rest spots include Bumbine (approx. 0.19km), Deodeokgoeul (approx. 0.66km), and Got Cafe (within approx. 0.65km). To handle meals around the site, it is better to allocate 1 hour for viewing, 1 hour for nearby travel and dining, and separate time for moving to other cultural heritage sites. Since stops, routes, and walking times for public transportation could not be specified from reliable official data, routes should be reconfirmed using Daegu city bus and map services on the day of travel.

• Daegu Textile Museum: Approx. 4.7km
• Baekbul Old House: Approx. 5.3km
• Otgol Village: Approx. 5.6km
• Bumbine: Approx. 0.19km
• Got Cafe: Within approx. 0.65km
• Deodeokgoeul: Approx. 0.66km