Hongcheon Pungam-ri Donghak Revolution Army Battle Site

Hongcheon Pungam-ri Donghak Revolution Army Battle Site is the site where the Donghak Peasant Army fought against government forces during the late Joseon Dynasty. In the 31st year of King Gojong's reign (1894), the failure of the movement to restore the founder's honor and the tyrannical rule of Jo Byeong-gap, the magistrate of Gobu-gun in Jeolla Province, led to the Donghak Peasant Movement, initiated by Donghak leader Jeon Bong-jun, with the aim of helping the nation and bringing peace to the people. At that time, a large peasant movement also arose in the Hongcheon area. Some of the peasant army came down from the mountains to attack the government office and advanced as far as Jangya Village, but they fought against the government forces' commander-in-chief Maeng Yeong-jae, and about 30 Donghak soldiers were killed in action.

After being defeated here, the Donghak army regrouped at Pungam-ri and fought against government forces at Jajak Pass, their last stand, led by Kim Suk-hyeon, but they were ultimately defeated, and the Donghak Peasant Movement ended in failure. In 1976, a pile of remains was discovered by local residents at Jajak Pass. The number of deaths at that time was estimated at about 800, but since the wounded were buried together, it is believed that the number was even greater. Even now, residents of Pungam-ri hold ancestral rites for those who died fighting as Donghak followers in the battle, with many households conducting the rites for several days starting from the 20th day of the 10th lunar month. Currently, a monument commemorating the Donghak army battle site stands here.