Executive Residence of Chosun Savings Bank Repurposed as Convenience Facilities and Exhibition Hall

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jong-gil] The building from the Japanese colonial period located at Seonwonjeon in Deoksugung Palace will be utilized as a convenience facility and exhibition hall.

The Cultural Heritage Administration’s Palace and Royal Tombs Division announced on the 30th that the former executive residence of Joseon Savings Bank will be renovated into a convenience facility and exhibition hall for visitors exploring Seonwonjeon and the "Gojong’s Path," with plans to open in early next year. The building was constructed in July 1938. It is a basement one floor and two above-ground floors structure, with a total floor area of 465㎡. The Palace and Royal Tombs Division will invest 1.5 billion KRW in the renovation. The space will be designed to inform visitors about the restoration project of Seonwonjeon, scheduled for completion in 2039, its progress, and the history related to Seonwonjeon. It is planned to operate temporarily until 2030.

Seonwonjeon in Deoksugung Palace is a sacred space housing the royal portraits (Eojin, 御眞), ancestral tablets, and spirit tablets of kings. During the Japanese colonial period, the site included the Joseon Savings Bank residence, the U.S. ambassador’s residence, and Gyeonggi Girls’ High School. The site of Seonwonjeon was confirmed in 2003 and returned to the Korean government in 2011 through a land exchange with the United States. A representative from the Palace and Royal Tombs Division stated, “We hope visitors will better understand the history of palace damage during the Japanese colonial period through the exhibition hall.”