Japanese castles in Korea

Japanese Castles in Korea (Korean: 왜성; Hanja: 倭城; RR: Waeseong; Japanese: 倭城, romanized: Wajō, Wesōn) are Japanese castles built by the invading forces along the southern shores of Korea during the Imjin War (1592–1598).

Waeseong in Korea can be classified into two categories: castles built to secure supply lines for Japanese forces moving throughout Korea, and castles built primarily along the southern coast of Korea to serve as seats of governance.

The first category of castles was built between Busan and Seoul at intervals roughly equal to the distance an army could march in one day. The castle network was later expanded northward to Uiju. These castles were established either by reinforcing existing settlements or by building anew when no suitable settlement existed in the area that required a castle. Although their locations are currently unknown, waeseong are also believed to have been built between Kilju and Anbyŏn in Hamgyong Province.

The second category of castles built along the southern coast were in Busan, Ulsan, South Gyeongsang Province, Suncheon, and South Jeolla Province.

Waeseong are thought to have been built not only on the southern coast, but also inland. However, there is no evidence. Thirty-two areas on the southern coast have already been investigated.