Namhansanseong was a fortress that protected the southern approaches to the capital during the Baekje kingdom (18 B.C. – 660 A.D.) and the Joseon dynasty (1392-1897). During the Qing invasion of Joseon in 1636, King Injo of Joseon (reigned 1623-1649) sought refuge here and constructed Haenggung, a temporary palace. Subsequently, it became the administrative center of the Gwangju region, and today, it is a site where many cultural properties are preserved.