The First Electric Power Site in the Republic of Korea to Be Restored

Cultural Heritage Administration's Palace and Tombs Headquarters and Korea Electrical Association MOU

The Cultural Heritage Administration's Palace and Royal Tombs Headquarters signed a business agreement with the Korea Electrical Association on the 17th at the Gyeongbokgung Outer Kitchen. The main contents include the reproduction of electric light facilities around Gyeongbokgung Geoncheonggung and the restoration and exhibition of electric light sheds in the Yeonghundang area of Gyeongbokgung. The area around Geoncheonggung in Gyeongbokgung is the birthplace of electricity in the Republic of Korea. The two organizations will light electric lamps made for the event at this location during the 'Gyeongbokgung Starlight Night Tour' held from the 18th to the 29th. Yeonghundang in Gyeongbokgung is the site of Korea's first electric power plant. The Cultural Heritage Administration conducted an excavation in May 2015 and confirmed the presence of an electric light shed (電氣燈所), a coal storage (炭庫), and carbon rods (materials for arc lamps). The electric light shed was completed in 1886 and began producing electricity the following year. A Cultural Heritage Administration official said, "This agreement lays the foundation for the systematic verification, reproduction, and restoration of the electric light shed," adding, "We plan to develop content themed around the history of electricity and utilize it as a tourism resource."

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