[One Day Walk] Walking Along Japanese Colonial Era Sites... Gyeonghuigung - Seodaemun

Today's walking course starts at Gyeonghuigung and heads toward Seodaemun. This area contains many historical sites from the Japanese colonial period.

The course begins at the Seoul Museum of History and immediately heads to the adjacent Gyeonghuigung. Gyeonghuigung was the residence of Taejo Yi Seong-gye, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty. At that time, it was called Seogwol, and during King Gwanghaegun's reign, Gyeonghuigung was constructed here. From King Injo to King Cheoljong, it functioned as a secondary palace, and the name Gyeonghuigung was given in the 36th year of King Yeongjo's reign (1760). Gyeonghuigung disappeared without a trace as the only one among Seoul's city walls during the modernization period and Japanese colonial era. Later, Seoul High School was built on the site of Gyeonghuigung, and when Seoul High School relocated to Gangnam, part of Gyeonghuigung was restored. The site of the Seoul Museum of History was also originally part of Gyeonghuigung.

Next, the route passes through Donuimun Museum Village and heads to Gyeonggyojang. Gyeonggyojang was the office and residence of Baekbeom Kim Gu. After liberation, from November 1945 to June 1949, Kim Gu used this building as his residence. The building, originally called Juchumjang, a Japanese-style name, was renamed Gyeonggyojang after the nearby Gyeonggyo Bridge. Gyeonggyojang, a two-story building, holds historical significance. It served as a gathering place for nationalist figures, and it was also the site where Kim Gu was assassinated by Ahn Doo-hee.

Then, the course heads to the Hong Nan-pa House. The Hong Nan-pa House, a modern architectural building, is a brick Western-style house built by a German missionary in the 1930s, which was later acquired and lived in by composer Hong Nan-pa. This place clearly shows the characteristics of Western-style houses from the 1930s and is meaningful as the location where Hong Nan-pa composed his representative works.

Next, the route goes to the site of General Gwon Yul's house and then to the Independence Gate. The Independence Gate is a stone gate 14.28 meters high and 11.48 meters wide, built in 1897 through public fundraising led by Seo Jae-pil and the Independence Club. The Independence Gate was modeled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, constructed with stacked granite, and has stairs inside leading to the top.

Finally, the course goes to Seodaemun Independence Park, built on the site of Seodaemun Prison. In 1987, the Seoul Detention Center located here was relocated to Uiwang City, Gyeonggi Province, and construction began, with the park opening in 1992. The park includes the Seodaemun Prison History Hall, a statue of Seo Jae-pil, the March 1st Independence Movement Memorial Tower, and the Patriotic Martyrs Memorial Tower. The course concludes by moving from Seodaemun Independence Park to Yeongcheon Market.