Western Bastion III, Castle watchtower in Suwon, South Korea
Seosamchi is a protruding watchtower on the western section of Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon, South Korea, positioned between the Seoporu tower and the Seoammun gate. Built from brick, it juts out from the main wall so that soldiers inside could observe and cover a wide angle of the ground below.
Seosamchi was built in the late 1790s as part of Hwaseong Fortress, commissioned by King Jeongjo of the Joseon Dynasty to defend Suwon and honor his father. The fortress, including this tower, was completed in just over two years and reflects military planning that drew on Korean and foreign influences of the era.
Seosamchi sits along the walkable wall circuit of Hwaseong Fortress, making it easy to reach on foot by following the western section of the wall. Signage along the path is clear, so no prior knowledge of the site is needed to find your way around.
The word "chi" in Seosamchi refers to a type of projecting platform designed so that anyone approaching the main wall could be seen from the side before reaching it, making a direct attack much harder. Hwaseong Fortress, of which this tower is a part, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1997.
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