History and Literature in Wonju | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

Gangwon Gamyeong, located on Wonil-ro in Wonju-si, Gangwon-special self-governing province, was the government office where the Gangwon-do provincial governor performed his duties during the Joseon Dynasty. Established in 1395 (4th year of Taejo), it served as the administrative center for Gangwon-do, overseeing 26 divisions including bu, mok, gun, and hyeon, until 1895 (32nd year of Gojong) when the eight-province system was abolished and replaced by the 23-bu system, causing it to lose its function. It has special significance for having conducted Gangwon-do's main government affairs for 500 years until its closure. After 1895, most buildings disappeared, leaving only a few, including Seonhwadang, Pojungnu, and Naea. From 1896, the buildings were used as the Wonju Jinwidae headquarters, and after Jinwidae was disbanded in 1907, they served as the Wonju county office. Although many buildings were lost during the Japanese colonial period and the Korean War, restoration began in 2000 by Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and Wonju-si, completing partial restoration by 2005. In October 2011, the Wonju Post Office building behind Seonhwadang was demolished to begin restoration of the rear garden area, completed in 2018. The restored Seonhwadang garden features a beautiful pond, pavilions such as Bongraegak, Chaeyako, Joeojeong, and Gwanpunggak, a 600-year-old protected zelkova tree, and a sculpture of Kim Geum-won, a late Joseon female poet from Wonju known for Travels Diary. Wonju Gangwon Gamyeong is famous for being the best-preserved gamyeong in the country. Since restoration, the site hosts a community festival called 'Moonlight Travel' every September, open to the public until 10 PM, making it a beloved nighttime scenic spot.

Wonju Hyanggyo was founded in the late Goryeo period but was burned down during the Imjin War and rebuilt in 1603, nurturing many scholars and students. It was heavily damaged during the Korean War but has been restored to the present. On January 17, 1985, it was designated as Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Cultural Heritage Material No. 98 and was elevated to Gangwon-do Tangible Cultural Property No. 199 on November 25, 2022. The building layout of Wonju Hyanggyo follows the Jeonhak Hu-myo style. The Daeseongjeon, the ritual space, enshrines Confucius as the central figure, along with the Four Sages (Anja, Jeungja, Jasa, Mencius), two Song dynasty scholars (Zhu Xi, Cheng Hao), and a total of 25 figures including 18 Korean sages. There are also the East Wing (Dongmu) and West Wing (Seomu) housing spirit tablets, and educational spaces such as Myeongnyundang where students studied, as well as eastern and western dormitories (Dongjae and Seojae). Wonju Hyanggyo organizes ritual events including Seokjeon Daeje (spring and autumn), Ungokje, Songgokje, and Samtoje, and also conducts cultural events and educational programs.

Park Kyung-ri Literary Park is a space infused with the spirit of Park Kyung-ri's novels. Although Park Kyung-ri was born in Tongyeong, she had great attraction and attachment to Wonju, where she settled and engaged in extensive writing activities. It is especially meaningful as the place where she completed parts 4 and 5 of the novel Toji. The park was completed in May 1999 by the Korea Land Corporation following cultural circles' recommendations, concerned that Park Kyung-ri's old house would disappear due to land development in 1989. It was once called Toji Literary Park but renamed Park Kyung-ri Literary Park in 2008 to avoid confusion with the Toji Cultural Center. Facilities include the garden the author personally tended, the old house preserved as it was where parts 4 and 5 of Toji were completed, and the Park Kyung-ri House of Literature, a five-story building with exhibition, archive, and seminar rooms. The literary house, designed by a renowned domestic architect and elaborated by designers, exhibits photos and relics on the second floor showing the author in her lifetime, and videos about the Toji novel on the third floor, as well as space for literary events. The first floor of the book cafe serves as the park management office and slow mailbox experience area, while the second floor offers various books including the author's works and picture books. Additionally, there is the Pyeongsari Yard, Yongdurebeol, the main setting of part 2 of Toji, and Hong-i Hill, a space for children named after Hong-i, a child character in the work.