Gyeonggyojang

Gyeonggyojang
경교장
Location within South Korea
General information
Type	House
Architectural style	Korean
Town or city	Jongno District, Seoul
Country	South Korea
Coordinates	37°34′43″N 126°58′38″E / 37.57861°N 126.97722°E / 37.57861; 126.97722Coordinates: 37°34′43″N 126°58′38″E / 37.57861°N 126.97722°E / 37.57861; 126.97722
Opened	1938
Korean name
Hangul	경교장
Hanja	京橋莊
Revised Romanization	Gyeonggyojang
McCune–Reischauer	Kyŏnggyojang

Gyeonggyojang (Hanja:京橋莊) is a Japanese home built in Korea under Japanese rule located Jongno-gu, Seoul. From November 4, 1945 to 1949, it was Kim Gu's private residence and official residence, the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, and the headquarters of Korea Independence Party. From 1949 to 1952, it was used as the embassy building of the Republic of China in Korea.

History[]

Gyeonggyojang was Choi Chang-hak's villa, but after handing it over to Kim Gu, he lived here and was assassinated by Ahn Doo-hee on June 26, 1949.

General outline[]

Gyeonggyojang was located across the East Theater between Gwanghwamun and Seodaemun, which is the site of Samsung Medical Center in Pyeong-dong, Jongno-gu, near Seodaemun Station. The Japanese-style house, which was built with a total floor area of 396.69² and a total floor area of 945.45², was called Jukcheomjang when it was completed in 1938. After Korea's liberation from Japan's colonial rule on August 15, Choi Chang-hak provided Kim Gu's residence, and instead of the Japanese name Jukcheomjang, Kim Gu changed his name to Gyeonggyo, which was named after nearest bridge's name.

Kim Gu, who returned to Korea in November 1945 with members of the Provisional Government, led activities, counter-tests and unification campaigns for the founding of the country while living here until he was assassinated by Ahn Doo-hee at the office of the head of the Gyeonggyojang on June 26, 1949.

And is was used as a rallying point for nationalists.

Since then, it has been returned to Choi Chang-hak and used again as the residence of the Embassy of the Republic of China, but its owner has changed several times, including the presence of U.S. special forces during the Korean War. It was purchased by the Samsung Foundation in 1967 and was built by attaching the main building of Korea Hospital (currently Gangbuk Samsung Hospital) to the back of the building, and was used as a hospital entrance for a long time.

Originally designated as Seoul Tangible Cultural Heritage No. 129 on April 6, 2001, it was promoted to National Designated Cultural Heritage No. 465 on June 13, 2005 after the importance of the building in modern and contemporary Korean history was reevaluated. Kim Koo's old office, located on the second floor of the building and west of the building, was also operated by Samsung as Kim Koo's memorial hall.

On August 14, 2009, the entire Gyeonggyojang was to be restored after 60 years, and all the hospital facilities in the building were moved and the construction began in March 2011 and opened on March 1, 2013.^[1]

References[]