 
Today, the 10 km-long fortress (designated North Chungcheong Province Monument #35) on the southern
slope of Worak-san National Park stands in ruins. However,
during the Joseon period, the three fortress gates (to the South, East, and North) were rebuilt. The
fortress extended from North Gyeongsang Province and acted as a barrier across the Wolcheon River.
The arched South Gate is situated on the road from Dongchang to Mun-gyeong. To the left and right, long walls
of double-layered stone construction stretched. The East Gate, situated at the entrance to
Songgye Valley is also arched and reveals a unique stone
architecture. The North Gate stood among the houses of Songgye-ri Village. Most of the original fortress
blocking the valley is now gone, including the gate, wall foundations, and battlements. A notable feature
is a carved Taegeuk (yin-yang symbol) on the stone gate base. The Deokju Fortress remains are important to
studies of Korean fortresses because each of the five layered walls was built at a different time, hence
revealing the development of Korean architecture during the Joseon period.
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