The Reality of 'Gyeongsang Gamyeongji,' the Yeongnam Jurisdiction in the Joseon Dynasty, Revealed... Daegu City Opens the Site to the Public

Verification of Infection Entry Space and Auxiliary Buildings in Correct Positions
Stone Statue Artifacts Discovered Around Seonhwadang of Gyeongsang Gamyeong Main Building
"Accelerating Additional Historic Site Designation and Restoration of Gyeong

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] On the 16th, Daegu City announced the findings confirmed so far from the excavation survey of the site of the former Daegu-Gyeongbuk Regional Military Manpower Administration around the Historic Site No. 538 'Gyeongsang Gamyeongji' and opened the site to the public.

This site underwent several changes after the Gwanpungnu, the main gate of Gyeongsang Gamyeong, was relocated to Dalseong Park around 1920. The entrance road and auxiliary buildings of Gyeongsang Gamyeong were replaced by buildings of the Japanese military police, and later the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Regional Military Manpower Administration was established here.

The area around Gyeongsang Gamyeong Park in Jung-gu, Daegu, has preserved the main buildings, Seonhwadang and Jingcheonggak, in their original locations since Gyeongsang Gamyeong was established at the current site in 1601. Following a trial excavation in 2017 that confirmed the Gamyeong site, it was designated as Historic Site No. 538, recognized as a relic that well represents the administrative offices of the eight provinces after the Imjin War.

The arrangement of stone guardian statues in the courtyard of Seonhwadang, as seen in a photo believed to have been taken during the Japanese colonial period.

However, despite valuable materials such as related photographs, cadastral maps, and approximate public maps being well preserved regarding the entrance space and auxiliary buildings of Gyeongsang Gamyeong, only approximate locations had been estimated, and the actual structure of Gyeongsang Gamyeong remained unclear and neglected.

Starting April 20 of this year, Daegu City, with permission from the Cultural Heritage Administration, selected the Daedong Cultural Heritage Research Institute as the excavation agency to conduct a detailed excavation survey to verify the location, scale, and structure of the main entrance space and surrounding auxiliary buildings of Gyeongsang Gamyeong and to secure basic data for restoration and maintenance projects.

Through this investigation, the actual remains of the main entrance space of the Gamyeong, Gwanpungnu, the foundations of Jungsammun, and auxiliary building sites were all confirmed. The spatial range of the main entrance road (approximately 13 meters wide), arranged in a north-south straight line in front (south side) of Seonhwadang, the main hall of Gyeongsang Gamyeong, as well as the location and estimated foundation of Gwanpungnu, the main gate of the Gamyeong, were identified.

State of the Seokinsang excavation.

The foundation and drainage facilities of Jungsammun and parts of the foundation of auxiliary buildings, presumed to be Gunroecheong, located on the east side of the entrance road, were also confirmed. Artifacts such as stone statues that were lined up in the courtyard of Seonhwadang, white porcelain fragments, and roof tile pieces were excavated.

Although the remaining condition confirmed by this investigation is not very good, Daegu City plans to perfectly restore the layout and structure of Gyeongsang Gamyeong, which was the political, administrative, and military central office of Gyeongsang Province during the late Joseon period for over 400 years.

Park Hee-jun, Director of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of Daegu City, stated, "Based on the findings confirmed through this excavation survey, we plan to accelerate the application for additional designation of the historic site and the restoration and maintenance project of Gyeongsang Gamyeong after completing all necessary procedures."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.