This study examines the spatial structure of Jeju-eupseong (Town-castle) in the Joseon Dynasty. The spatial structure of Jeju-eupseong has distinctive features and regional characteristics that are substantially different from typical eupseong in inland regions. This is mainly attributed to the geographical characteristics of the island and the administrative system with strengthened military functions. Jeju-eupseong displays a distinctive layout of major buildings and road system with a plaza located in its center in comparison with the ones found in inland regions. Gwandeokjeong Plaza in Jeju-eupseong served as the center of Jeju’s politics, administration, and culture during the Joseon Dynasty, and it, in the modernization period, has become an open public space in the heart of Old Downtown used for community gatherings. Therefore, this study aims to explore the historical background and distinctive spatial structure of Jeju-eupseong in comparison with eupseong in other parts of Korea. Moreover, the study examines the characteristics of Gwandeokjeong as a plaza that has not been dealt with in other studies of eupseong.

Considering the situation in the early 20th century when the existing urban system centered on urban areas began to change, the biggest factors causing urban structural changes in urban areas are construction of railroad and urban dismantling. The change process of Eupseong, in the microscopic viewpoint, can be understood as a process of change in the course of dismantlement of town's demarcation, improvement of accessibility and urban expansion due to the construction of railroads, process of urban expansion following the crumbling boundaries and structural changes. This study aimed to look at the transformation process of the Eupseong in the early 20th century, focusing on the demolition of the castle and the railway construction from a microscopic point of view of city.

This study aims to interpret the characteristics of the townscape of the market area in the Hongju Eupseong walled town based on the formation and transformation of modern urban tissue. Based on an analysis of the town plan using a cadastral map, land register, building management register, and aerial images, the change process of the urban tissue and townscape in the market area is divided into three phases: the expansion phase of the market’s function from the 1910s to 1940s, which featured an open market-based townscape; the declining phase of the market’s function from the 1940s to 1960s, which featured a route-shop-based townscape; and the expiration phase of the market’s function after the 1960s. More specifically, with the opening of roads, the functions of the open market gradually diminished from the 1940s on, and after the war, especially during the rapid urbanization of the 1960s, the market area changed into a roadside shop and inner residential area, and the foundation of the current townscape was fixed. Above all, it is noteworthy that since the 1960s, the urban tissue and townscape have formed on the foundation of the former open market based on Japanese capital.

Compared to Early Chosun Dynasty, the spatial structure of most local Eupseongs of Korea had a standardized change with the expansion and spread of the Rye-hak(禮學:a study of confucius Rite). Meanwhile in the process of rebuilding Eupseongs there was a tendency of relocation of the local government offices(官衙) and its attached facilities in terms of functions and use. Although it was PyeongSanseong Miryang Eupseong had an unreasonable spatial structure locating Gaeksa(客舍; accommodation house for visitors) in the middle of the local government office complex, and Dongheon(東軒;main office building) in the east of it before the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592. However with the reorganization of spatial Structure of local Eupseongs after the Japanese invasion Gaeksa was moved to the foot of Adongsan where commanded a fine view of river. Dongheon was moved to the center of Eupseong for the effective management of its auxiliary organizations. It was because road system and administrative efficiency had a serious effect on deciding the location of the local government office and its attached facilities. After the Japanese invasion Hyangchoeng(鄕廳), having been out of Eupseong, also was moved to the independent location within Eupseong separate from Dongheon and Gaeksa. It seemed to take into account the autonomy of Hyangchoeng. Dongheon, Gaeksa, and Hyangchoeng which are the crucial facilities of Milyang Eupseong were arranged at each angular point of big triangle. In order to enhance the administative efficiency, the attached administrative facilities were arranged surrounding Dongheon and Hyangchoeng. The spatial structure of Milyang Eupseong in the late Choseon dynasty was of great difference from that of uniformly organized system of early Choseon Period. It was because the development of administrative function, the pursuit of efficiency, and commercial progress had a great impact on the change of urban space.

This study is one that estimates the architectural composition as well as the location of guest house of Haemi Eupseong on the basis of the analysis of modern and contemporary data related to Haemi Eupseong. It is significant that this study has presented an opinion that can become a practical basis for the historical research of the prototype of Haemi Eupseong of the late Chosun Dynasty through the analysis of modern and contemporary data that had been unsatisfactory among the fruition of studies conducted in relation to Haemi Eupseong. The outcomes achieved by this study are as follows. Firstly, it was verified that the guest house of Haemi Eupseong that has been restored is one that has different architectural composition than the prototype of the late Chosun Dynasty and is restored in a different location. Secondly, in respect of architectural composition of guest house found by the analysis of the picture, it was confirmed that the government office has one step higher than the double-wing house in the form of the roof. Thirdly, the location of the guest house of Haemi Eupseong of the late Chosun Dynasty is judged to be the periphery area where the current restored guest house is located, which is where the teachers' building of Haemi elementary school was located. Fourthly, the prospect of the guest house of Haemi Eupseong is decided to be similar direction to the current restored guest house with the greatest possibility of having the same direction with the arrangement of teachers' building of Haemi Eupseong elementary school.

The following research of the road network of Jeju-Eupseong during Daehan Empire period has a twofold purpose: to study some characteristics of the road network at that time; and, to restore it to the original form of that period before a newly constructed road, called Shinjakro, has been established. As an attempt to trace the old shape of Jeju-Eupseong, this study analyzed some historical factors based on the first land cadastral map which was made in 1914, including outskirts of Jeju-Eupseong; such as castle itself, castle gate, road, bridge, lots of land, etc. Then this study also tried to restore the old road network of Jeju-Eupseong, through finding the original land-lot shape in the land cadastral map. There was five Shinjakro made between 1914 and 1917. The road network before then was composed of the double east-west axes and the single north-south axis. These axes was connected to some important place of the inside of Jeju-Eupseong; such as castle gates, fountains, Gaek-sa, etc. There were many branch lines between these main axes at about 80-120m intervals. Also there was an outer road along the outer wall of castle, connected with each castle gates. Especially, the north-west axis was the baseline which divided into two large parts, a government office area and non-government area (housing and commercial street for the people). Finally, this paper examines that the road network of Jeju-Eupseong was the true result for the efficient function of the city, especially considering natural geographical conditions and environment of living of that time.

This study examined the background and change of building Yeongam eupseong and characteristics and construction method of its spatial structure. The results of this study can be summarized as follows. First, Yeongam eupseong was built for the same purpose of national border defense against the invasion of Japanese army as other Eupseongs were built and it was found first in the literature in the era of King Munjong of Joseon Dynasty with the scale of three gates and 4,369 cheok of castle wall. Such a scale was continued and in particular, according to flat structure, road network and gate position shown in the map, the form and road system of Yeongam eupseong before the 19th century were mostly identical with the current ones. Second, castle wall was built over foundation by using talcum after leveling the foundation soil and castle wall can be divided into outer wall, filling part and inner wall from the section. Outer wall was constructed by inserting and layering pebbles with big irregular stone, filling part was made with talcum and riprap and inner wall with soil in several layers by keeping gradient. This building method showed common features in inserting and layering pebbles for outer wall, use of protruded base and section form compared to Jeollado Eupseong.

This study includes a review of the relevant literature and data on the Gyeolseong Eupseong, a coastal castle town of the Joseon Period. During the process of building the Gyeolseong Eupseong, Eupchi(administrative office) was transferred to several different locations for the following reasons:. first, to strengthen defensive capabilities by utilizing the locational advantages of the Seokdang Mountain Fortress, second, to secure sufficient space for holding the castle and have access to water in times of emergencies, third, to strengthen coastal defence by utilizing geographical advantages. Most of the Gyeolseong Eupseong was damaged during the Japanese colonial period. At present, there remain only part of the castle's facilities and some facilities that were restored later in modern times; 4 building sites have been identified. Remaining and destructed buildings can be identified through old maps(the local maps of 1872) and Zirizi and Eupzi(geography books). Also identified were 2 castle gate sites where a 1,500m-long stone castle wall and an ongseong(a crescent-shaped defensive structure), 5 chiseongs, and a most were constructed. The Gyeolseong area is assumed to have been a strategic foothold to defend the west coast from the days before the Three Kingdom Period. However it is very difficult to find any records created before the Joseon Period. Therefore, the time of the restoration of the Eupchi should be determined based on records created in the late Joseon Period. Finally, excavation work needs to be done to identify the locations of the castle's facilities.