Old Inns Turned into Galleries... Tongyeong Old Downtown Becomes an "Open-Air Museum"

Completion of Modern History and Culture District on the 10th
Restoration of Kim Sangok’s Birthplace and Former Daeheung Inn
"From Preserving the Past to Energizing the Community"

Kim Sangok Birthplace (Kim Sangok Memorial Hall)

The Jungang-dong and Hangnam-dong area, which had been Tongyeong's busiest downtown district from the Joseon Dynasty through modern times, has been reborn as an "open-air museum." Old inns and houses have been transformed into memorial halls and galleries imbued with the breath of poets, welcoming citizens and visitors.

The Cultural Heritage Bureau and Tongyeong City held a completion ceremony on the 10th at the rest area in front of the Kim Sangok Memorial Hall in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, to mark the creation of the "Tongyeong Modern History and Culture District" and announced that it is now fully open to the public. This area was registered in 2018 as the sixth modern history and culture district in the country. Because the urban structure and architectural heritage formed from the Korean Empire period through the post-liberation era have been preserved intact, it is highly regarded for its historical and architectural value.

With the goal of street regeneration on both linear and area-wide scales, the Cultural Heritage Bureau has carried out restoration and maintenance projects over the past several years. In particular, the birthplace of the Tongyeong-born poet Chojeong Kim Sangok has been transformed into the "Kim Sangok Memorial Hall," which sheds light on his life and literary world, and the former Daeheung Inn, which retains the original form of a modern lodging facility, has been turned into the "Modern Photo Exhibition Hall," showcasing Tongyeong's historic urban landscape. In addition, Dongjin Inn and the Kim Yanggon House have been newly refurbished as experiential spaces and cafes for visitors, and small rest areas have been created between buildings.

Kim Yanggon House (Tongyeong Dabang)

The completion ceremony was attended by Yoon Soonho, Director General of Cultural Heritage at the Cultural Heritage Bureau, Cheon Younggi, Mayor of Tongyeong, and the family of poet Kim Sangok, who celebrated the new beginning of the district. Director General Yoon stated, "The Tongyeong Modern History and Culture District is a new driving force that both preserves memories of the past and promotes regional revitalization," adding, "We will spare no effort in supporting it so that it can take root as a cultural hub where citizens' lives and artistic inspiration come together."