Jongchinbu Gyeonggeundanggwa Okcheop Hall

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.2151

Category

Architecture

Era

조선시대

Designated year

2021

Location

종로구, 서울특별시— 서울특별시 종로구 삼청로 30 (소격동)

Coordinates

37.578744, 126.980033Kakao address conversion

This English description was machine-translated and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the original Korean text for details.

'Jongjinbu Kyunggundang and Okjeobdang' represents the central buildings of the Jongjinbu (Royal Clan Bureau), one of the highest-ranking (Top Grade 1) administrative offices during the Joseon era, featuring government-office architecture while maintaining palace-architectural formality. During Heungseon Daewongun's consolidation of power, concurrent with royal authority reinforcement efforts to expand Jongjinbu authority and organization, extensive Jongjinbu building expansion occurred with the primary structure rebuilt in 1866. Kyunggundang functioned as the assembly hall for princes and royal relatives as Jongjinbu's central building, with Okjeobdang and Seungjeomdang flanking both sides connected by corridor structures; though Seungjeomdang disappeared post-1950s. Kyunggundang features seven-bays front, four-bays-side column-head bracket work hip-roof architecture with expansive platform stone foundation and dressed-stone foundations and foundation stones throughout. Okjeobdang presents five-bays front, three-bays-side elementary column-head bracket hip-roof structure maintaining hierarchical distinction through reduced-scale and bracket-work formality compared to Kyunggundang. Kyunggundang and Okjeobdang employ foundation and foundation stone processing, pillar and bracket work formation, wall-panel decorative brackets and circular ornaments, and framework composition methodology remarkably similar to Gyeongbokgung Palace's other structures, demonstrating palace-architectural-convention adherence. As centerpiece halls among the 302-structure Jongjinbu complex reaching its height during King Gojong's reign, Kyunggundang and Okjeobdang preserve mid-nineteenth-century central-administrative architectural arrangement, composition, and connection-methodology examples of considerable historical value. Following 1981 relocation to alternate locations, 2013 restoration to original sites while maximizing original appearance maintenance through substantial material reuse establishes strong authenticity credentials. Jongjinbu Kyunggundang and Okjeobdang represent buildings reflecting the highest-grade architectural formation and technical mastery demonstrated during Jongjinbu post-seventeenth-century reconstruction, thoroughly embodying historical, architectural, and scholarly value warranting Treasure designation and preservation.

Location