GANGHWA COUNTY

The Goryeo Palace Site, Ganghwa, was used for 38 years, from 1232, the 19th year of the reign of King Gojong, when Goryeo moved its capital from Gaegyeong to Ganghwa to resist the Mongol invasion, until 1270, the 11th year of the reign of King Wonjong, when the capital was moved back to Gaegyeong. According to the Abridged History of Goryeo (Goryeosa Jeoryo), Choe U (崔瑀) mobilized troops to build a palace here. Although smaller in scale, it is said to have been modeled after the palace in Songdo, and the mountain behind it was also named Songak (松岳). In addition to the main palace (正宮), Ganghwa Island had many other royal residences, including temporary palaces (行宮), detached palaces (離宮), and provisional palaces (假闕). The area around Gwancheong-ri in Ganghwa-eup is believed to have been the site of the main palace. Its main gate was called Seungpyeongmun Gate (昇平門), with two three-story gates on either side, and Gwanghwamun Gate (廣化門) stood to the east. Seungpyeongmun Gate is said to have stood near the entrance to Yongheunggung Palace, about 100 meters south of the present site. All of the Goryeo palace buildings in Ganghwa were demolished under Mongol pressure when the capital was moved back to Songdo in 1270. During the Joseon period, local administrative offices and royal buildings were established on the former palace site. The Ganghwa palace complex included a temporary palace, Jangnyeongjeon Hall, Mannyeongjeon Hall, and Oegyujanggak, but all were destroyed by fire set by French forces during the French expedition to Korea in 1866. Today, only Joseon-period buildings remain, including Dongheon, where the magistrate of Ganghwa conducted official business, and Ibangcheong, where the gyeongnyeok official of the Ganghwa Magistrate’s Office worked.