Gangwon Gamyeong Heritage Museum in Gangwondo

Amazing view of the pond area in the evening at Gangwon Gamyeong Heritage Museum

gangwon gamyeong Heritage museum

Gangwon Gamyeong Heritage Museum is an old government facility area where the Gangwon Province governor performed various official tasks.

The governor used the Seonhwadang building as his office (more on this below).

Gangwon Gamyeong used to have many structures to facilitate various administrative needs of the old province. Most of the structures, according to the inscription, were destroyed during the Imjin War in 1592, the event when the Japanese invaded Korea.

When constructing the facility, here is what the inscription said:

"Mayor Yi Bae-Won started the efforts to build the lodging in 1634… and his successor Yi Joong-Gil and governor Kang Hong-Jun joined forces for construction. As for structures of Gamyeong, governor Yi Mahn-Yeong started the building process of Seonhwadang in the west of the lodging in 1665 (Hyungjong 6), and governor Yi Hu-San completed the construction of 31 sections in 1667."

Side view of Seonhwadang building is where the governors used to conduct their official business and public roles

What I found interesting at this attraction is the historical background, and the structures build and what is left of the whole area.

It is more exciting to visit this place when darkness comes. The lighting is fantastic and offers a romantic, especially among young couples.

old Structures and Buildings

The whole office area would have looked much better and more complex having more structures that cannot be seen at present.

However, with what has remained or what have been rebuilt are also interesting to be explored. I believe that most of the wooden structures are the rebuilt ones.

But one cannot doubt that some relics, such as the stone sculptures, stone works, and such durable materials are parts and pieces of the originals. And so they are worth one's visit.

The following are my arrangements of the structures based on my taste and observation as to what goes first...

The Main Gate & the Second Gate

Entrance Gate of Gangwon Gamyeong Heritage Museum

Second Gate after the main gate and leading towards the main office of the past governors

Seonhwadang Building
Seonhwadang is an old provincial government building where the governor used to carry out his public service roles for agriculture, taxation, military, judicial, administrative and handling civil complaints, among others.

This intricately built structure was used as the office of Gangwon governors until 1896 when the Gangwon Gamyeong was moved to Chuncheon. This was also used as a provincial office when the Korean War broke out in 1950.

By the way, the word 'seonhwadang' means that the building is for "praising the Kings and for enlightening people."

Front view of Seonhwadang Building (former office of the governors)

Right-hand side view of Seonhwadang (governor's office)

Residence of the Governor's Family
The home is called 'Nae-A' and was the main building where the governor's family stayed during the Joseon period. Nae-A is a Mindori type of house with 'ondol' (heated floor) sections and a storage room.

Nae-A was used for a long time during the Joseon Period. It had undergone various repairs. When the Gangwon Gamyeong Heritage Museum restoration project started, the whole building was said to be disassembled and rebuilt it to its present form.

'Nae-a' was the home of the governors' family members

Haenggak Building
"HaengGak was sub-building of JeongDang, which was (the) main building of (the) palace or Buddhist Temple located at both sides. Haenggak was one of (the) left side buildings of Seonhwadang. Seonhwadang had 3 sub-buildings, HaengGak, BoSeonGo and GongGo in the order from North. Site for these 3 buildings was assumed sharing space, not divided for each one from old mapping records. Additionally, it was not divided clearly in a floor plan made for excavating investigation to restore GangWonGamYeong in 2000. Restoration of HaengGak was planned 7 sections in front and 2 sections inside as counter-lifting roof structure. In 2009, this restoration plan started (the) second step to make small exhibition space and library for the history of GangWonGamYeong and restoration replica".

Haenggak Building

Porcelain and pottery relics

Official documents being kept in the building with recorded governmental items of Gangwon Province

Small Gate to the Pond

This this the third gate which is only for humans as the wider one is on its left-hand side

Resting area and building in the midst of the pond

Another view of the building with fantastic reflection in the pond

Old Zelkova Tree
This Zelkova serrata Tree is the only big tree you can find inside the area. You could imagine how it witnessed to everything that happened around it in the past over 600 years.

According to the notice carved on a wooden board beside the tree, the calculated age was 600 years old in 1983 on the 3rd of November.

It is approximately 25 meters high and around 600 centimeters in trunk circumference. I noticed that many branches were cut off.

Therefore, I could imagine how gigantic it is if it's standing proudly with all those branches.

A Zelova serrata Tree is over 600 years old

View of the Outside Wall

Amazing view of Gangwon Gamyeong in the evening

More Wonju Travel Attractions

Let me include the places I have explored in this section. You might be interested in them. Simply click the page to see descriptions and photos...

Chiaksan National Park
Birobong Peak (hiking course)
Guryongsa Temple
Wonju Sogeumsan Rocking Bridge
Seogeumsan Peak
Ganhyeon Rail Bike
Wonju History Museum

Also, I listed down the other places which I will visit or explore for my next coming.

Wonju Climate Change Center
Hanji Theme Park
Park Kyongni Literture Park
Mureum Bangmulgwan (museum)
Sangwonsa Temple
Museum SAN
Baegunsan Natural Recreation Forest

Etc.

Wonju Sogeumsan Rocking Bridge

Getting to Gangwon Gamyeong

When you are already in Wonju City, you can take any bus the passes this route. The route is the main road, and so one can find many buses from Wonju Intercity Bus Terminal or Wonju Express Bus Terminal for this direction.

Taking a taxi from the bus station or train station is not bad as well. It will only take 15 minutes from any of those stations.

My taxi from Wonju Intercity Bus Terminal passed by Gangwon Gamyeong Heritage Museum, which is just a couple of minutes from my hotel.

where to stay

Since I stayed one block away from Gangwon Gamyeong Heritage Museum, it was a great plus for me. I stayed in a motel which offered me the best rate I could find. Free WiFi, computer access, games (if you want), full-screen TV, aircon, washroom with a bidet.

Nearby, via Agoda Hotel, you can also choose from among the hotels I linked below…

Tidy and very accessible Sky Motel in Wonju City and close to Gangwon Gamyeong

Feel free to search accommodation offers through the Search Box available above on the right-hand sidebar on this page.

Thanks for reading through this short article.
Should you have questions, please let me know by any means possible.

Enjoy your travels.

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