Yangju City Accelerates Yangjugwanaji Revitalization Project
A Special Day Begins at Yangjugwanaji
An Immersive Journey Through the Permanent Experience Zone
A Living Cultural Heritage... Yangjugwanaji Embracing the Future
Yangju City in Gyeonggi Province is accelerating the creation of a historical and cultural tourism belt centered around the Joseon Dynasty government office site, Yangjugwanaji. With over a century of history, Yangjugwanaji is being reborn as a "living heritage" that is becoming an integral part of citizens' daily lives.
According to Yangju City on April 22, the city is moving beyond simple restoration of the site. It is actively pursuing the "Yangjugwanaji Activation Project," which connects the nearby Yangju Byeolsandae Nori Performance Hall and Yangju Hyanggyo in a single route, reorganizing the entire area into a historical and cultural space.
The "Permanent Experience Zone," which opened on April 1, has received great response as a space where everyone from children to adults can experience the Joseon era. In the flagship program, the "Yangjumok Excavation Experience Site," children become archaeologists and excavate virtual artifacts, naturally learning about local history. The "Naea Playground," themed around plum blossoms, orchids, chrysanthemums, and bamboo, along with traditional game experiences, is also serving as a venue for intergenerational communication.
The core of this project is not just simple restoration, but the reorganization of the entire area into a vibrant historical and cultural space by connecting the nearby Yangju Byeolsandae Nori Performance Hall and Yangju Hyanggyo in a single route.
With the opening of the "Permanent Experience Zone" at Yangjugwanaji on April 1, the opportunities for historical experiences have become even richer.
At the main attraction, the "Yangjumok Excavation Experience Site," children can use excavation tools to find virtual artifacts and solve puzzles, allowing them to naturally learn about local history.
The "Naea Playground" is decorated with themes of plum blossoms, orchids, chrysanthemums, and bamboo, and is used as a venue for intergenerational communication through traditional games such as Gonu, Ssangnyuk, and Gongginori.
The Visitor Center offers a variety of immersive experiences, including building the Yangju Daemosanseong Fortress, artifact assembly, and VR experiences.
Additionally, visitors can rent Hanbok, wear traditional attire, and stroll around the government office site, creating unique memories.
In particular, the "Prison Experience Zone" vividly recreates punishment devices and photo zones, providing an immersive look into Joseon-era penal culture and receiving high praise as an educational program.
Yangjugwanaji has now established itself as a leading historical and cultural site, attracting approximately 50,000 visitors annually.
A variety of hands-on programs are also being continuously operated to support this.
At the "Yangjumoksa's Tea House," where visitors can experience traditional tea ceremonies, they can taste Jehoyang, a tea presented by King Jeongjo to his officials, as well as ginseng tea featured in Jeongjo's tea ceremony records. Through the mission-based performance "Meet the Yangjumoksa," visitors can interact with Joseon-era characters and enjoy a unique experience.
In the "Let's Play at Yangjugwanaji" program, which explores the Yangjugwanaji area, participants can enjoy activities such as making Eosadaebi air fresheners, calligraphy fans, woodblock prints, and traditional gold-leaf bookmarks.
Especially popular is the opportunity to keep the handmade items as cherished souvenirs.
The "All Together Around Yangjugwanaji" program, designed for families, offers a variety of educational and experiential activities such as drumming, archery, puzzle solving, making Byeolsandae masks, and making traditional snacks.
Yangju City is not limiting itself to simple lighting effects but continues to introduce differentiated content that enhances visitor satisfaction by linking nighttime performances and experience programs.
Most notably, there has been a change in the local commercial district.
Sales at cafes and restaurants near the government office site have increased during the evening, serving as a cultural and relaxation space for citizens and providing new economic vitality for local merchants.
Yangjugwanaji is evolving beyond a mere historical site into a "living cultural heritage" where the past and present coexist.
An official from Yangju City stated, "Yangjugwanaji is more than just a historical site; it is a living cultural heritage where citizens and tourists can directly see, hear, and feel the Joseon era. We will continue to develop it as a sustainable historical and cultural platform."
In 2025, the most special journey through time in Yangju begins at Yangjugwanaji.
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