Naju-si: Historic Places and Seasonal Impressions

The walking tour of Naju-Eupseong Village begins at Geumseonggwan Hall and continues toward Naju Hyanggyo. Naju Moksanaea is also part of the village route. This makes it possible to explore Naju’s architectural and cultural history through several sites, although the buildings did not all serve the same historical function.

Geumseonggwan: Guesthouse and History

Geumseonggwan Hall was built sometime between 1475 and 1479. During the Joseon period, it served as a government-run guesthouse for government officials. Ceremonial rites of praise for the king were held there on the first and fifteenth days of each month. This use links its function as a guesthouse with a recurring historical ceremonial practice. Later, the hall became a symbol of the anti-Japanese movement supported by the people of Naju. A restoration project to return it to its original appearance ran from 1976 to 1977. The dates refer to different things: 1475 to 1479 marks the construction period, while 1976 to 1977 refers to the restoration project. This distinguishes the building’s construction period from the much later project.

The Ginkgo Tree in the Backyard

A large ginkgo tree with a dense canopy stands in the backyard of Geumseonggwan Hall and is more than 600 years old. Alongside the building’s history, it offers a perspective of its own: here, the history of construction and restoration meets a natural feature whose age is measured in centuries.

Naju Hyanggyo: Education, Layout, and the Seasons

Naju Hyanggyo was once Naju’s state-run school. Its buildings follow the same Jeonmyohuhak layout as Seoul’s Sungkyunkwan. The comparison concerns the spatial arrangement of the buildings and adds an architectural point of reference to its educational history. Highlights of a visit to the Hyanggyo include crape myrtle blossoms in summer and ginkgo leaves in autumn. For a seasonal contrast, you can therefore compare the summer blossoms with the autumn foliage as two distinct impressions.

Naju Moksanaea: A Hanok Built in 1825

Naju Moksanaea is a traditional hanok house built in 1825 and is part of the Naju-Eupseong Village route. It adds traditional residential architecture to the historical roles of guesthouse and educational institution. Together with Geumseonggwan Hall and Naju Hyanggyo, the hanok offers another point of interest if you are interested in architectural styles and the different uses of these historic sites.

Other Local Themes in the Naju Administrative District

The history of transport and markets is also part of the story in Naju’s administrative district. At the former Naju Station, wax figures depict historical ticket inspection and the work of railway staff during the Japanese occupation. Moksa-goul Market was established in 2012 by merging Naju’s five-day market with its daily market. These themes extend the focus beyond historic buildings: one depicts railway work during the occupation, while the other tells the story of how a market was established.

Discover more destinations: Gurye, Yeonggwang-gun, Hwasun-Gun, Haenam-gun, Mokpo, Gwangyang-si, Wando-gun, Yeosu

For the regional travel overview: Jeollanam-Do.