Walk the 'Uibyung Trail' — Look for the Names on the Memorial Stones
Creatrip Team
4 months ago
A small hiking group explored the 'Uibyung (righteous militia) Trail' around Sambongsan in Imsil, North Jeolla Province, visiting Sochungsa shrine and memorial stones for 28 members of Lee Seok-yong’s militia who fought in the 1907–1909 anti-Japanese uprisings (Jeongmi Uibyung). The reporter read faint Chinese characters on the stones and found names of youthful fighters (義童) Park Cheol-gyu and Heo Cheon-seok and monk-combatants (義僧) Bong-su and Deok-hong, who died in battles such as the 1907 Nawoonsa engagement and the 1908 Daewoonchi clash. The article traces Lee Seok-yong’s origins in Jukjeon village and old school (seodang) at Chugamjae, describes village routes and battle sites, and reflects on the militia’s limited arms compared with modern Japanese rifles yet strong patriotic resolve. Visitors are encouraged to honor the fallen by reading their names on the stones while walking the trail and remembering local history and landscape tied to the independence struggle.
