Gangjin Ogamtong is a complex cultural space consisting of a music creation studio, food market, and traditional Korean meal experience center. Visitors can enjoy splendid performances, delicious local delicacies, fun hands-on activities, and eco-friendly local food. The Jeonnam Music Creation Studio supports the creative activities of regional musicians and serves as a truly open cultural complex for both local musicians and residents, aiming to expand the local popular music audience.
Yeongrang Kim Yunsik was born here on January 16, 1903, as the eldest son among five children of Kim Jongho. He was called Chaejun in his childhood but changed his name to Yunsik, and Yeongrang is his pen name, which he mainly used in literary activities. Until his death on September 29, 1950, Yeongrang released about 80 beautiful poems, of which around 60 were written during the time he lived here, refusing name changes and shrine worship before liberation. After Yeongrang moved to Seoul in 1948, the birthplace changed hands several times, but Gangjin-gun purchased and has managed it since 1985. The main house, partially altered, was restored to its original form in 1992, and the gatehouse, which had been demolished, was rebuilt in 1993 based on the family's verification. The birthplace preserves the well, camellia trees, jangdokdae (earthenware jars stand), persimmon trees, and is planted with many peonies that served as poetic subjects.
Saeuijae (四宜齋) is the place where Dasan Jeong Yak-yong first stayed when he was exiled to Gangjin in 1801. Saeuijae is the name he gave to a small room in the tavern (Dongmunmaebanga) owned by an elderly woman who generously let him stay. It means "a house where a person who corrects four things properly lives." Dasan vowed to discipline himself in thought, appearance, speech, and behavior. He ordered himself to "make thoughts clearer, appearance tidier, speech smaller in quantity, and behavior more serious." Saeuijae is a space of creation and hope. Encouraged by the considerate tavern owner who said, "How can you live in vain? Shouldn't you teach at least a disciple?" he taught using the book he compiled himself, Ahakpyeon, as the main textbook, and wrote works such as Gyeongseyu-pyo and Aejeryang here. Dasan stayed here from winter 1801 to winter 1805 under the care of the tavern owner and her only daughter. After extensive historical research, Gangjin-gun restored the tavern site near the well inside the East Gate in 2007 in its original form. Currently, Dongmunmaebanga (tavern) and a Hanok experience center operate on this site.
Namgang Seowon is also called Namgangsa. It is a seowon dedicated to the mid-Joseon scholar Wooam Song Si-yeol (1607–1689), Zhu Xi (1130–1200), a Confucian scholar of the Song dynasty who systematized Neo-Confucianism, and Song Si-yeol’s disciple Sonjae Park Kwang-il. The origin of Namgang Seowon dates back to when Song Si-yeol was exiled to Jeju Island in 1689 (Sukjong 15) due to the Gisa Hwanguk incident. While trying to board a ship at Seongjapo (now Nampo) in Gangjin to Jeju Island, he was caught in a storm and briefly stayed at Baengnyeonsa Temple on Mandeoksan Mountain nearby, where he lectured scholars. To commemorate him, Namgang Seowon was established in 1803 (Sunjo 3). At that time, local Gangjin residents, with approval from Han Yong-gu, the provincial governor, moved Song Si-yeol’s portrait from Noam Seowon in Jeongeup and enshrined it at Baengnyeonsa, naming the shrine Namgang—the predecessor of Namgang Seowon. In 1838 (Heonjong 4), upon the scholars’ proposal, Zhu Xi was also enshrined. In 1901, a new altar was built at the current site to honor Zhu Xi and Song Si-yeol, and the Eopil Pavilion was constructed, later also honoring Park Kwang-il. To the left of Namgang Seowon is the old Eopil Pavilion, with a newly built pavilion in front. The pavilion houses the Gangjin Namgangsa Zhu Xi woodblock prints, a cultural property of Jeollanam-do. These woodblocks were found in a chest that drifted from the sea near Seongjapo when Song Si-yeol was exiled to Jeju in 1809 (Sunjo 9). The county magistrate tried to move the chest to the provincial office, but the cart carrying it overturned in front of Namgangsa (Namgang Seowon), so the woodblocks were kept there.
The exact founding date of Gangjin Hyanggyo is unknown, but based on records that Yuntak encouraged planting a ginkgo tree in Daeseongjeon and the current age of the ginkgo tree, it is estimated to date back to the early Joseon Dynasty in the 1400s. Like other buildings, Gangjin Hyanggyo suffered damage during the Imjin War. In 1613, local residents contributed funds and, with the help of county magistrate Jeong In, built Sammajae. The hyanggyo was officially established in 1675. In 1858, county magistrate Sim Eui-chan repaired the hyanggyo; Daeseongjeon was repaired in 1901 and 1919, and Myeongryundang was repaired in 1935. Existing buildings include Daeseongjeon, Dongjae, Seojae, and Myeongryundang. The layout follows the Jeonhak Humo style, with a learning area centered on Myeongryundang in front and a ritual space centered on Daeseongjeon at the back. Inside Daeseongjeon are memorial tablets of the Five Saints, Four Sages of Song, and 18 Korean sages. To the left of Daeseongjeon stands a ginkgo tree approximately 400 years old, and gatehouses flank the entrance to Daeseongjeon. Architecturally, Daeseongjeon is three bays wide and deep with a double-eaved gable roof, while Myeongryundang is five bays wide, two bays deep, with a single-eaved hipped-and-gabled roof. Spring and autumn stone rituals are held, and incense offerings occur on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month. One jeongyo and one jangisu manage operations.
