The Changes in the International Situation and Iksan in the 6th and 7th Centuries

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the rise and status of Iksan in the 6th and 7th centuries. To this end, we examined Baekje's response to changes in the situation in East Asia, how Iksan emerged, and how it was positioned. In the 6th and 7th centuries, China was in a period of upheaval. The emergence of the unified dynasty in China brought tensions to the Korean Peninsula, and Baekje shifted away from its Southern dynasties-centered foreign policy and switched to a two-sided diplomacy that reacted sensitively to changes in the situation of the Northern dynasties in reality. Baekje's two-sided policy described in 『Suseo』 shows its foreign policy, which is agonizing over between Goguryeo and the Chinese dynasty. In Baekje, the advancement and defense surrounding the old Gaya region became an issue as the importance of the against Silla War emerged after the defeat of the Battle of Kansansung. Iksan's development in the late 6th century originated from the fact that it is on a transportation route that connects the logistics and collection areas to the Gaya region. The accounts of Alyasanseong(閼也山城) Fortress, which are criticized as Yeonhwa-Junpyeon(蓮花罇 片), the celadon of the remains of Wanggung-ri(王宮里遺蹟), Ohaengdaepo(五行大布) in Bukju, and Nangsan in Iksan, serve as the basis for this. In addition, after the five-pang(五方) were installed, Iksan, which can complement the relationship between the central-pang(中方) and eastern-pang(東方), was inevitably emphasized due to the intensification of the against Silla War. The existing achievements regarding the status of Iksan in the 7th century can be summarized into Cheondo theory(遷都說), Byeoldo theory(別都說), Byeolbou theory(別部說), Corridor theory(複都說), Igung theory(離宮說), and Management theory(經營說). There are several possibilities for East-West provinces(東西 兩城) that can be connected to China's corridor theory regarding the status of Iksan. In particular, when Xavi was excluded, it seems that the ruins of Gongsanseong Fortress and the remains Wanggung-ri were located north and south of Sabi, and played a suitable role. The fact that both regions were military bases and the king frequented will provide a solid basis for this.