Central Post Office, Seoul

Basic information

Designation

Historic Site No.213

Category

Sites & Pagodas

Era

조선 고종

Designated year

1970

Location

종로구, 서울특별시— 서울특별시 종로구 우정국로 59 (견지동, 우정총국)

Coordinates

37.574424, 126.982594

This office, established in 1884, and starting operation in October of that year, was responsible for mail business at the end of the Joseon Dynasty. It comprised two main sections. One was Ujeongchongguk, the head office that had jurisdiction over the capital city, Gyeongseong (the old name of Seoul), and the other, a local authority called Ujeongguk which covered the eight provinces of Korea. However, it was closed following the failure of a political movement called the Gapsin Coup (an attempted rebellion in favor of relations with foreign nations and political reform) which broke out in 1884. It reopened in 1893 under the name of Jeonuchongguk and was continuously renamed afterwards with such titles as Gongmuamun Yeokcheguk, Nongsanggongbu, Tongsinbu and Tongsinwon. It was located in Jongno district, and among the features of its appearance was of the roof shaped the Chinese character 八 (pal, meaning eight) and its size, with five rooms in front and three rooms on one side. At the present day, it is a postal memorial hall and no longer has its original appearance from the time of its construction owing to reconstruction work in aid of convenience and efficiency. Stamps, documentary records and other relics have been preserved here. It is a historic place, and storied in regard to the introduction of a modern mail system and the administration of postl affairs domestically and internationally. It has another specially precious value from a historic point of view: it was the base of operations of the Gapsin Coup led by young members of the westernization-oriented party called Gaehwapa, and it can be said to have been the site of the uprising of that political movement.

Location