Gyeonggijeon Shrine in South Korea

Address of Gyeonggijeon Shrine in South Korea: 102 3-ga, Pungnam-dong, Wansan-gu, Jeonju

Open hours at Gyeonggijeon Shrine in South Korea:

Summer Season (Mar. - Oct.) 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Winter Season (Nov. - Feb.) 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Free admission at Gyeonggijeon Shrine in South Korea: Open year round

Features of Gyeonggijeon Shrine in South Korea

Gyeonggijeon Shrine in South Korea, a historical treasure, was erected in 1410 and holds the portrait of King Tae-jo Lee, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty. Originally, 5 sites throughout Korea were selected to enshrine portraits of the dynastic founder: one each in Gaeseong, Yeongheung, Jeonju, Gyeongju, and Pyeongyang. However, all but the one in Jeonju was destroyed by Japanese armies during the 1592-98 invasions. Gyeonggijeon itself was burned down shortly thereafter (it is not clear to the author if this was the result of the Japanese) but was rebuilt in 1614. The features of the Gyeonggijeon Shrine in South Korea are as follows:

  -   The King and his wife's mortuary tablets are enshrined here at Jogyeong Shrine.

  -   The entrance is directly opposite Jeon-dong, marked by a painted main gate and a small tourist information booth.

  -   The main structures, whilst not particularly impressive in themselves, are set in the middle of walled grounds full of pine and bamboo trees, dusty paths leading through overhanging branches and aged wooden doors.

  -   Yi's portrait is sited in a rear building, typically full-length with austere facial features and subdued colors. It occupies the centre of a three sided building lined with portraits of some of his more renowned successors - Sejong, Yeongjo, Gojong and Jeongjo - and a number of original palanquins used in official ceremonies, such as the carrying of the portraits to the shrine.

  -   To the right of the central shrine area a raised wooden building known as the Jeonju Sago. It holds historical archives detailing the administrative affairs of the king.

  -   A little further towards the external stone wall, close to a thick corner of bamboo, a stupa and stele hold placenta from the birth of King Yejong.

  -   There is also a Traditional Crafts Exhibition Centre which sells a number of handmade products such as the famous Jeonju folded fans, Mulberry paper and calligraphy brushes.

  -   You can find another historic site where King Mokjo once fought a tiger and Yi Seong-gye held a banquet to celebrate his victory over Japanese troops twelve years before he seized the throne.

  -   Of more interest is the Hynaggyo, a 17th century Confucian Academy hidden away to the right of the main road (walk under the footbridge and take the path that drops down to the right about 100 metres further on). From here you can loop back round past the Traditional Culture Centre and Calligraphy Museum to the rear of the cathedral.

  -   This shrine has become a popular spot for filming traditional television shows.