Yeongjongjin Fortress was moved from Namyang, Gyeonggi-do, to Jayeondo Island in 1653 (the 4th year of King Hyojong’s reign) to provide an additional evacuation route for the royal family. After Yeongjongjin was relocated, the island once known as Jayeondo came to be called Yeongjongdo, after the fortress. In late Joseon, Yeongjongjin defended the entrance to the Ganghwa waterway and became recognized as a military stronghold, repelling attacks by the French fleet and the Oppert expedition. 

However, the Japanese warship Unyo attacked in 1875, burning down government offices and civilian homes. 

The site was left in ruins, and Yeongjongjin was abolished during the Gabo Reform of 1895.

Today, the area around Yeongjongjin History Park includes sections of the old stone walls, a 300-year-old zelkova tree, 

the reconstructed Taepyeongnu Pavilion, and the Yeongjong History Museum. Together, they offer a glimpse into the site’s past as a fierce stage of history.