Construction at Gwanghwamun Square Uncovers Extensive Remains of Joseon Dynasty Yukjo Street... First Public Exhibition to Citizens

Cultural Heritage Excavation to Conclude Late This Month... Open to Citizens Online and Offline
First Confirmation of Locations and Building Foundations of Key Government Offices like Samgung-gu and Saheonbu on Yukjo Street Through Actual Remains

Panoramic View of Samgunbu Area

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City announced on the 10th that a large number of traces of Yukjo Street from the Joseon Dynasty were discovered during the excavation of buried cultural assets related to the creation of Gwanghwamun Square.

Seoul City especially confirmed for the first time through actual remains the locations and building foundations of major Joseon Dynasty government offices such as Samgunbu and Saheonbu, which had only been estimated through historical records until now. This follows the identification of the site of Uijeongbu, the highest administrative body of the Joseon Dynasty, through seven years of excavation since 2013, and additionally uncovered traces of the old Yukjo Street, which had disappeared due to damage during the Japanese colonial period and the construction of high-rise buildings and roads.

Seoul City plans to publicly display the excavated remains from the Gwanghwamun Square cultural asset excavation, which began in January 2019, to citizens for the first time. Feedback from citizens participating in the on-site public viewing will be collected and reflected in the future preservation direction of the Gwanghwamun Square remains.

Seoul City is conducting a total of nine phases of cultural asset excavation on a target area of 10,100 square meters. The final ninth phase is currently underway and is expected to be completed by the end of this month. Approximately 40% (4,000 square meters) of the total investigation area revealed Joseon Dynasty remains. Various remains were confirmed, including government office sites from the 15th to 19th centuries, residential sites, walls, wells, waterways, and gate sites (locations where gates once stood).

In front of the government complex, the foundation of the outer corridor of ‘Samgunbu,’ which oversaw military affairs during the Joseon Dynasty, was excavated. The location of ‘Samgunbu,’ which was presumed to face Uijeongbu across Yukjo Street, was confirmed through actual remains. Additionally, a drainage channel estimated to be from the 19th century and parts of a building site presumed to be from the early Joseon period were also identified.

In front of Sejongno Park, remains presumed to be from ‘Saheonbu,’ the Joseon Dynasty’s government inspection agency, including gate sites, corridors, walls, and wells, were excavated. A drainage channel believed to be related to Yukjo Street from the 16th century was also confirmed. In front of the Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance building, building sites, wells, and drainage channels presumed to be residential were excavated throughout the investigation area.

In addition, numerous Joseon Dynasty artifacts such as pottery shards and roof tile fragments were unearthed. The on-site public viewing of the Gwanghwamun Square excavation remains will be held in small groups twice a day (a total of 18 sessions) over nine days from the 21st to the 29th.

Meanwhile, Seoul City plans to implement protection and safety measures starting at the end of May through the legal cultural asset review process after completing the detailed excavation. Based on the review results, preservation and utilization plans will be developed reflecting the opinions of experts in history and various fields as well as citizens.

Jung Sang-taek, head of the Gwanghwamun Square Promotion Team, said, “Through over two years of excavation, a large number of traces of Yukjo Street, a core street of the Joseon Dynasty, have been confirmed. We will develop preservation and utilization plans that honor the historical significance of the excavated cultural assets while being future-oriented. We will also open the site to citizens, gather their opinions, and reflect them in the cultural asset preservation and utilization plans.”

Details of the Stone Rows in the Estimated Drainage Channel of Yukjo Street

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