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The Namsan Beacon Mound Lighting Ceremony is a re-enactment of Bongsu, a communication system that was used to notify the central government of urgent military matters (e.g. the approach of enemy forces, etc.) from the borders during ancient times. Bongsu was used to send messages across the peninsula by using smoke during the daytime and torchlights at night, a more convenient and rapid messaging method than horse or messenger. "Bongsu" is a combination of the words "bong" meaning torchlight, and "su" meaning smoke.

Namsan Beacon Mound was established after moving the capital city to Hanyang (present day Seoul) during the third year of King Taejo's reign (1394) during the Joseon Dynasty period. To protect the city from invasions, castle walls were built on the four major mountains located within the city: Bugaksan, Inwangsan, Naksan, and Namsan. On Namsan, five beacons were built at its peak to report political and military information to the king. One beacon was lit at normal times, two when an enemy appeared, three when an enemy approached the border, four when an enemy invaded the border and five beacons were lit when a battle with an enemy had begun at the border.

Namsan Beacon Mound served as the central destination point for all beacons in the peninsula because of its proximity to the King. At the peak of the Chosun dynasty, 673 beacon towers transmitted military and political information from around the peninsula to the capital Seoul. Historical records state that it took 12 hours for a message to travel from Busan to Seoul, two cities approximately 500 kilometers apart. Namsan Beacon Mound was used for approximately 500 years until 1894, the year after Gabo Reformation. Namsan Beacon Mound was also called "Mokmyeoksan Beacon Mound" as Namsan was once called Mokmyeoksan, and was even called "Gyeong Beacon Mound" as it was located in Seoul.

Originally there were five different beacon mound stations located on Namsan, but they were destroyed over the course of time. The current beacon mound was reconstructed in 1993 based on historical records in one of the five locations, near Namsan Palgakjeong Pavilion), and has been designated Seoul Monument No. 14. 

Starting from 2007, a re-enactment of how the Beacon Mound was used during the Joseon Dynasty has been held from 11:30 to 12:30  every day except on Mondays. The event starts with a patrolling ceremony and a ceremony of the guards. At around noon, the bongsugun (beacon tower soldiers) sound the bugle and conch horn to signify that the lighting ceremony is about to begin. Then at exactly noon, Bosingak Belfry located in Jongno rings twelve times, and the lighting ceremony begins. Only one beacon is lit in accordance with the rules that were used in ancient times.   

Although the lighting ceremony itself is great to see, the patrolling ceremony and ceremony of the guards that occurs before and after the lighting ceremony are very interesting to see as well. Although smaller in size than the Changing of the Guards ceremony that takes place at Deoksugung Palace, these ceremonies offer the opportunity to witness a different aspect of traditional Korean culture. Once the event has concluded, visitors may take photos with the bongsugun.