# Anti-appeasement steles

Anti-appeasement steles were 19th century monuments built in Korea to ostracize Westerners. They were erected by Heungseon Daewongun at more than 200 major transportation hubs across the country, including the four streets of Jongno. They were built in 1871 (the 8th year of reign by Emperor Gojong of the Joseon dynasty). They were made of granite and were four cubits high, five cubits wide, and eight inches thick.

## History

When Emperor Gojong ascended the throne in 1863 at a young age, Lee Ha-eung, Emperor Gojong's father was appointed as Daewongun and took power. At this time, the United States and Russia were approaching the Korean Peninsula. They came to Joseon to engage in commerce and occasionally staged armed provocations and demonstrations.
Daewongun initially attempted to negotiate with France to counterbalance Russia during the early years of his tenure. However, his policy stance swiftly shifted to Sakoku after the outbreak of Byeonginyo in 1866 and an attempted robbery at the king's tomb. In particular, Daewongun established a policy of Sakoku that prohibited diplomatic relations and commerce with foreign countries to maintain order of the Joseon dynasty in 1871. In order to warn the people, in April 1871 in the central regions of Seoul and across the country stelae were set up by fire hydrants.
In 1882 Japan invaded Korea and Daewongun was kidnapped by the Qing dynasty. Most of the stelae were demolished at the request of the Japanese government. In Seoul, one was buried near Bosingak Pavilion in Jongno on 26 September 1882. It was discovered in June 1915 when Bosingak was relocated and displayed in a gallery west of Geunjeongjeon Hall in Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Stelae remain in about 30 locations.

## Content

The following words are written on the stele as an order:
洋夷侵犯 非戰則和 主和賣國
Then, in small letters, the next phrase is written on the side of the rain.
戒我萬年子孫 丙寅作 辛未立
This means, "If you don't fight for Western's invasion, you'll surrender, so if you insist on surrender, you'll sell your country. I warn all the people.. Build it in Byeongin-year and set it up in Sinmi-year."

## List of stele

| Name | Picture | Installation (discovery) location | Current location | Scale | Cultural Heritage No. | Designated date |
| Gadeokdo Stele | | Seongbuk-dong, Gangseo-gu, 56, Gadeokpo-gu | 344 Chunga Elementary School in Seongbuk-dong, Gangseo-gu, Busan | 128×145×16 | Busan Metropolitan City designated Monument No. 35 | 01-Feb 1993 |
| Ganghwa Stele | | | Deokjin Dondae of the Southern Dynasties | 147×53×28 | | 1867 |
| Gyeongbokgung Palace Stele | 150px | Gyeongbok Palace Geunjeongjeon, 4th Street in front of Bosingak Pavilion in Jongno | National Museum of Korea | | | |
| Gyeongju Stele | 150px | Sansa-dong of Gyeongju | Gyeongju National Museum | Height 1.5m | | |
| Gochang Stele | | | Hyangcheong, Gochang-eupseong, Gochang-gun | | | |
| Gumi Stele | | | Mt. 52–1 in Gupodong, Gumi City | 175×186 | North Gyeongsang Province Cultural Heritage Material No. 22 | 05-Aug 1985 |
| Gunwi Stele | | | Gunwi-eup Dongbu-ri Gunwi-gun Office | 115×43×14 | | |
| Gijang Stele | 150px | inside of Daebyun-port breakwater | | 144×52.5×21 | Busan Metropolitan City designated Monument No. 41 | 25-May 1996 |
| Namhae Stele | | Noryang Shipyard, Sulcheon Middle School | 410-18 Noryang-ri, Seocheon-myeon, Namhae-gun | 220×49×16 | South Gyeongsang Province Cultural Heritage Material No. 266 | 31-Dec 1997 |
| Daegu Stele | | | Gwandeokjeong Catholic Martyrs Memorial Hall in Daegu | | | |
| Miryang Stele | | | Milyang City Milyang | | | |
| Bonghwa Stele | | Bongseong-ri, Bonghwa Middle School, Bongseong-myeon | Bonghwa Education Office in Naeseong-ri, Bonghwa-eup | | | |
| Busanjin Stele | | Busan Jinsheng, Yongdu Mountain Park | 948-1 Busan Museum in Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu | 143×44.7×23.8 | Busan Metropolitan City designated Monument No. 18 | 26-June 1972 |
| Sancheong Stele | | Huanzheng Garden, Sancheng Elementary School | Sancheong-ri 290-1 Sancheong Elementary School in Sancheong-eup, Sancheong-gun | 135×45×25.5 | Gyeongnam-do Type Cultural Heritage No. 294 | 27-Dec 1993 |
| Seongju Stele | | Sungjoo Elementary School | Sungjoo Girls' High School | | | |
| Sunheung Stele | | Sunheung-myeon of elementary school campus | 314-3, Sunheung-myeon Office, Sunheung-myeon, Yeongju | 114×46 | Gyeongbuk Cultural Heritage Material No. 242 | 14-May 1991 |
| Sinchang Stele | | Shinchang Elementary School | 297 Town-Narye-ri, Sinchang-si | | Cultural Heritage Material No. 236 of Chungcheongnam-do | 17-May 1984 |
| Yangsan Stele | | | Sotori 667 Sonosowon, Sangbuk-myeon, Yangsan | | Gyeongsangnam-do Type Cultural Heritage No. 120 | 02-May 1979 |
| Yeosan Stele | | Yeosan Elementary School | Iksan-myeon, Iksan-myeon, 445-2 Yeosan-dongheon | 114×46×9 | Iksan City Hyangtological Site No.7 | 30-May 2002 |
| Yeongi Stele | | Yeongihyang-bridge | 34 Yeongi-ri, Yeongi-myeon, Sejong City | | Sejong City Monument No.11 | 11-Feb 2016 |
| Youngyang Stele | | | County seo-ri Nutrition County Office | | | |
| Yecheon Stele | | | Daeheung-myeon Office | Upper break | | |
| Okcheon Stele | | | Mountain4-2 Samyangsa-gil, Okcheon-eup, Okcheon-gun | bullet marks | Monument No.6 of Chungcheongbuk-do | 21-Dec 1976 |
| Yonggung Stele | | Yonggung Middle School, Yonggung Elementary School | Manparu of Eupbu-ri, Yonggung-myeon, Yecheon-gun | | Gyeongbuk Cultural Heritage Material No.598 | 4-Oct 2012 |
| Unhyeongoong Stele | | | Unhyeon Palace Museum of Antiquities | | | |
| Janggi Stele | | inside of Janggi castle | Jangsu Myeon Office Garden in Nam-gu, Pohang | 120×45×21 | North Gyeongsang Province Cultural Heritage Material No. 224. | 07-Aug 1990 |
| Geoldoosan Stele | 150px | | Zeodu Mountain Martyrs' Site | | | |
| Changnyeong Stele | | Changyeong-eup Gyohari | 28-1 Manokjeong Park in Gyosang-ri, Changnyeong-eup | 123×46×20 | Cultural Heritage Material No. 218 of South Gyeongsang Province | 02-May 1995 |
| Cheongdo Stele | | Cheongdo Roadside | 15-10 Seosang-ri, Hwayang-eup, Cheongdo-gun | 155×45×25 | Gyeongbuk Cultural Heritage Material No.109 | 05-Aug 1985 |
| Cheongsong Stele | | | Catholic Church in Cheongsong-eup, Cheongsong-gun | 115×48×16 | | |
| Cheongju Stele | 150px | Seokgyo-dong Sewage Station | 92-13 Central Park, Nammun-ro 2-ga, Sangdang-gu, Cheongju | 108×47 | North Chungcheong Province Monument No. 23 | 27-Oct 1978 |
| Pohang Stele | | Road in front of Chilpo-ri Rock-Culture County, Pohang | Pohang City Heunghae Folk Museum | | | |
| Hamyang Stele | | | 349-1 Sangrim Park in Unlim-ri, Hamyang-eup, Hamyang-gun | 110×55×19 | South Gyeongsang Province Cultural Heritage Material No. 264 | 31-Dec 1997 |
| Hampyeong Stele | | Kujuppo, Seokseong-ri, Hampyeong-eup | 906-7 Hampyeong Park in Hapyeong-eup, Hampyeong-gun | 135×52×20 | Jeollanam-do Cultural Heritage Material No. 176. | 24-Feb 1990 |
| Hongseong Stele | | | Mount Obong-ri, Guhyang-myeon, Hongseong-gun | 125×48×25.5 | Cultural Heritage Material No. 163 of Chungcheongnam-do | 17-May 1984 |