Gangwongamyeong Provincial Office, Wonju

Basic information

Designation

Historic Site No.439

Category

Sites & Pagodas

Era

조선 태조 4년(1395년)

Designated year

2002

Location

원주시, 강원특별자치도— 강원도 원주시 원일로 77 (일산동)

Coordinates

37.347961, 127.950373

Gangwongamyeong, the provincial office of Gangwon-do, was the center of administrative affairs in the province covering 26 administrative units large and small. It was established in 1395 (4th year of the reign of King Taejo) and operated for 500 years until 1895 (32nd year of Gojong) when the eight-province system was abolished and the country was divided into 23 administrative districts (bu) instead. The provincial office originally consisted of 31 buildings such as Seonhwadang (main office), Jaeeundang (residence), Pojeongnu (front gate), four main gates in the four directions, and guesthouse as well as other facilities. When other buildings such as Wonju City Hall and headquarters of the Korea Veterans’ Association were constructed nearby, however, the provincial office began to lose its original appearance; today, only a few buildings remain such as Seonhwadang, Pojeongnu, and Cheongundang (residence). An excavation of the site in 2000 revealed relatively clear traces of the sites of structures assumed to be the inner gates, workshop, and bookstore as well as vestiges of the path leading from the front gate to the main office, Seonhwadang, walls surrounding Seonhwadang, and corridors. In addition, the retaining walls of the pond site remain in relatively good condition. Thus, the provincial office site features several of its original buildings in their original locations, and the remains of building sites and other structures are in relatively good condition. In addition, since the building sites of the Wonjumok district office remain just below, it is a site providing important information for the study of government office buildings in Korea.

Location