Ganghwa County

Ganghwa 강화군
County
Korean transcription(s)
• Hanja
• Revised Romanization	Ganghwa-gun
• McCune-Reischauer	Kanghwa-kun
Country	South Korea
Region	Sudogwon
Provincial level	Incheon
Administrative divisions	1 eup, 13 myeon, 96 ri
Area
• Total	411.2 km2 (158.8 sq mi)
Population
• Dialect	Seoul
Website	Ganghwa County Office

Ganghwa County is a county in Incheon Metropolitan City, South Korea, where Ganghwa Island, as well the minor islands around it, is located.

Ganghwa has been recognized as preserved most important history of peninsula from the prehistoric age to modern times. Relics and remains of prehistoric age, old stone age and new stone age were found of their various vestiges in Jangjeongni, Sagiri, Dongmangni and others respectively in the symbolic huge stone relics of Bronze Age, more than 80 dolmens were discovered in the vicinity of Bugeunni and neighbouring area, of which giant tombs revealed the existence of inhabitant there.

Dangun, the founder of Gojoseon, is said to have made an altar on top of Mani-san and offered sacrifices to his ancestors.

In the 9th century, Unified Silla established a garrison on the island to combat piracy. The commander Wang Geon established his military reputation at the garrison, later going on to found the kingdom of Goryeo. In the 13th century, the court of Goryeo took refuge on the island as Mongol forces invaded in 1232. After Goryeo capitulated to the Mongols, the elite forces on the island rose up, beginning the Sambyeolcho Rebellion.

In the early 19th century, Catholicism was introduced into Korea despite its official proscription by the Korean court. The Korean court clamped down on the illicit French missionaries, massacring French Catholic missionaries and Korean converts alike. At the first battle, the Korean infantry division lost heavily, and General Yang Heon-su concluded that only a large cavalry division could stand up to French firepower. An ambush by Korean forces on a French party attempting to occupy the strategically located Cheondeung Temple (전등사, 傳燈寺) on the island‘s south coast resulted in French casualties. French realization that they were far outnumbered and outgunned forced them to abandon the island and their expedition.

In 1871, following the General Sherman Incident, the United States Navy launched an expedition on the soldiers at Ganghwa Island, resulting in the Battle of Ganghwa.

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