Jongno-gu Opens 'National Heritage Repair Site' to the Public

Opportunity for Expert-Guided Tours of Munmyo and Seonggyungwan Daeseongjeon Roof Repair Site Every Thursday Until December This Year

Public view of the national heritage repair site. Provided by Jongno-gu.

Jongno-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Jeong Munheon) will open the national heritage restoration site to the public for the first time every Thursday from this month until December. This public opening will take place at the "Seoul Munmyo and Sungkyunkwan Daeseongjeon Roof Repair Project" site.

This national heritage site was monitored by the National Heritage Agency's National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage in 2020, which found that the northeast eaves had sagged, receiving an E grade (repair). After design work, construction began in 2023. Daeseongjeon is a building reconstructed in 1606 after the Imjin War, renovated during the reign of King Gojong, with partial roof repairs carried out from the 1950s to the 2000s. Visitors can learn about the traditional architectural techniques accumulated by ancestors and observe numerous Joseon Dynasty roof tiles, metal fittings, and wooden members.

In particular, visitors should pay attention to the Joseon Dynasty architectural members that are rarely seen at other sites. The site features the longest single wooden member in Korea, the 18.8-meter-long Pyeonggodae (a member connecting the eaves and determining the eaves curve, located above the rafters) found on the roof.

Additionally, Jongno-gu has created an opportunity to explore the entire Seoul Munmyo and Sungkyunkwan (Historic Site) with a professional guide. Visitors can tour Sungkyunkwan, the Joseon Dynasty’s national educational institution, and Munmyo, where memorial rites for sages were held, learning about the long history and stories of the Confucian scholars associated with each place.

The national heritage restoration site tours and historical cultural explorations can be applied for through the Seoul Public Service Reservation system. Reservations can also be made in advance by calling the Cultural Heritage or Cultural Heritage Preservation teams or contacting the person in charge via email.

Meanwhile, on the 14th, Jongno-gu signed a business agreement with the National Heritage Agency and the Seoul Museum of History at Changdeokgung Palace for the "Four Major Palaces of National Heritage in Cooperation with the Local Community" (Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Gyeonghuigung). They pledged to collaborate on various projects and content development utilizing the palaces within the district for mutual growth.