Why is Dongmyo Shrine Dedicated to Guan Yu a National Heritage?..."Dongmyo Station" Should Be Renamed to "Sungin Station"

Lecture on the Necessity of Renaming Dongmyo-ap Station to Be Held on the 27th

Jongno-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jeong Munheon) will hold a lecture titled "A Historical Review on the Necessity of Renaming Dongmyo-ap Station to Correctly Understand Jongno's History" at 5 p.m. on the 27th at Sungin 2-dong Community Center (Jongno 65-gil 10).

Jeong Munheon, Mayor of Jongno-gu. Provided by Jongno-gu Office.

This lecture is organized to discuss the necessity of renaming Dongmyo-ap Station, a long-standing issue and a resident's wish in the area, and to enhance pride in the history of Jongno. The event is hosted by the Korea Freedom Federation Jongno Branch, with Professor Bok Gi-dae from the Graduate School of Convergence Archaeology at Inha University as the speaker.

Dongmyo (東廟), widely known for Dongmyo-ap Station on subway lines 1 and 6 and the Dongmyo Flea Market, refers to the shrine "Donggwanwangmyo" dedicated to Guan Yu, a general from the Three Kingdoms period, also known as Guanwang. During the Japanese invasions of Korea (Imjin War), Ming dynasty generals stationed in Joseon built the Guanwangmyo, which was completed in the 34th year of King Seonjo's reign and designated as Treasure No. 142 in 1963.

Jongno-gu holds the position that it is necessary to reconsider the reasons for preserving Dongmyo, a shrine dedicated to a Ming dynasty minister, as a treasure and its cultural heritage value. This is because Dongmyo is difficult to view as a place of great significance to Korea and Jongno's history, and it cannot be considered a name unique to the local area.

Rather than the subway station name Dongmyo-ap Station, the district is considering promoting the renaming to Sungin Station, derived from "Sungsinbang" and "Inchangbang" of Hansungbu during the Joseon Dynasty, which is deemed more fitting to Seoul's identity. Jongno-gu explains that residents and merchants also demand changing Dongmyo-ap Station to Sungin Station.

Mayor Jeong Munheon stated, "I hope this lecture will raise residents' pride and provide an opportunity to rethink the future of Jongno," adding, "We will do our best to fulfill the long-standing wishes of local residents and merchants."