Jongno District Opens 'National Heritage Restoration Site' to Citizens Until Year-End

Experience Traditional Architectural Techniques at Munmyo and Sungkyunkwan Daeseongjeon
Public Viewing Program Offers a Close Look at National Heritage Restoration
Learn About Joseon-Era Confucian Scholars and Ritual Spaces

Jongno District in Seoul will operate the "National Heritage (Seoul Munmyo and Sungkyunkwan) Restoration Site Public Viewing and Historical and Cultural Exploration" program from this month through December.

Citizens participating in the public viewing last year. Provided by Jongno District.

This program is designed to allow participants to directly observe national heritage sites that embody the wisdom of ancestors and the beauty of Korean culture, and to understand traditional architectural styles and historical backgrounds. The viewing sessions will be held at Seoul Munmyo and Sungkyunkwan (25-1, Sungkyunkwan-ro, Jongno-gu) on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, lasting approximately 60 minutes.

On site, a docent and staff member will accompany participants and provide detailed explanations about the building layout of Munmyo and Daeseongjeon, key components discovered during the dismantling of the roof, and the restoration methods for reused components. In addition, stories about the Daeseongjeon area, which served as a ritual space, the Myeongnyundang area, which was used for lectures, and the lives of Confucian scholars during the Joseon Dynasty will also be shared.

Citizens who wish to participate can register in advance through the Seoul Public Service Reservation website, with 20 participants accepted per session. For more information, contact the Cultural Heritage Preservation Team at the Jongno District Office (02-2148-2052).

Last year, Jongno District also operated the national heritage public viewing program a total of 31 times, with around 400 citizens participating. Participants praised the program, saying, "It was meaningful to see the national heritage restoration site up close," and "It was a valuable opportunity to learn about the architectural culture of our ancestors."

Jongno District stated, "This is a special opportunity to vividly observe and understand traditional architectural techniques and components in person," and added, "We hope that many citizens interested in national heritage will participate."