Seoul Jongno 'Uijeongbuji' Designated as Historic Site

Cultural Heritage Revealing Architectural Patterns of Major Joseon Dynasty Government Offices
Four Excavations Confirm Location and Scale of Main Hall Jeongbondang
Central Building with One-Level Higher Roof Flanked by Side Structures
"Shows Diverse Historical Layers, Holds Significant Symbolic Meaning"

Photos of Gwanghwamun and in front of Uijeongbu from 1892 to 1894

The ‘Uijeongbu Site (議政府址)’ located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, will be designated as a historic site.

On the 20th, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced the advance notice of designation of this cultural property as a nationally designated historic site. Opinions from various sectors will be collected for a month, and the designation will be finalized after review by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee.

The ‘Uijeongbu Site’ is a cultural property that allows examination of the architectural style of major government offices during the Joseon Dynasty. Through four excavation surveys conducted since 2016, the locations and sizes of the main pavilion Jeongbongdang and the buildings Seokhwakdang and Hyupseondang on its left and right were confirmed. The remains of a pond, a pavilion, and a well in the rear garden were also discovered, and it is evaluated to have outstanding historical and academic value.

The central building of Uijeongbu is Jeongbondang Yugu.

Uijeongbu was the highest-ranking government office of the first rank (Jeong 1-pum) among the central administrative offices of the Joseon Dynasty. It oversaw all officials and handled state affairs. Since the establishment of the Dobyeonguisasa (the highest state council in the late Goryeo period and the predecessor of Uijeongbu in the Joseon Dynasty) on the east side in front of the palace at the end of the 14th century, it was the only Joseon Dynasty government office to maintain its original location.

It was built in the 7th year of King Taejo’s reign (1398). The central building had a roof one level higher, with buildings arranged side by side on the left and right in a three-hall parallel form. Regarding this, Jeong Do-jeon wrote in the ‘Dobyeonguisasa Cheonggi’ that “the Dobyeonguisasa office building of the late Goryeo period had a tall and large house in the center, with wing-like houses on the left and right, joined as if hands were clasped (巍中翼拱左右).”

Uijeongbu site photographed in 1978 at the current Government Complex

A Cultural Heritage Administration official explained, “It is judged that the Uijeongbu office building in the early Joseon period inherited this form as it was,” and added, “Even when the office building was rebuilt in the 2nd year of King Gojong’s reign (1865), that form was repeated.” “The appearance of the central pavilion of Uijeongbu in the three-hall parallel form rebuilt in the 2nd year of King Gojong can be seen in photographs taken before 1901,” the official said. “The four excavation surveys also confirmed that the building layout matches the photographic materials.”

The investigation team at that time also confirmed that the brick foundation of the Gyeonggi Provincial Office building, which stood in front of the Uijeongbu site in 1910, remains. A Cultural Heritage Administration official said, “The Joseon Dynasty Uijeongbu, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office during the Japanese colonial period, the US military government, and the annex of the government office were all located here,” adding, “It has symbolic significance in that it shows various historical layers.”

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