There are a lot of attractions in Chilseok-dong. The Memorial Center of Gossaum shows various documentary data on this folk game, and an 800-year old ginkgo tree stands at the entrance of the town. Buyongjeong pavilion was the headquarters of Hyangyak of the ancient neighborhood self-governing body and now serves as a beautiful resting place for citizens. Gossaum is the most famous and popular folk game in Gwangju. The peak of this game continues for about 20 days and is during the first full moon of the year. ois made of a number of straw ropes and looks like a ring-shaped nail. All villagers twist straw all the day before the first full moon. The opening ceremonies of Gossaum include a Dangsanje shamanist service for good harvest and prosperity of the town and the performance of the farmer folk band. The band and villagers stamp the ground to the music. The villagers are divided into two teams, east and west, and vigorously pushes the other Go. If a team's Go touches the ground, they are the loser. This game contributes to strengthen solidity in the townsfolk.
800-year old ginkgo tree
The Chilseok-dong Ginkgo Tree is the guardian tree of village. It is 26m(78 ft) tall and 7m(21 ft) around. It is 800-year old tree. The villagers pray for a good harvest and prosperity of the town in front of this tree at night of the first full moon of the year. Gossaum is started by circling this tree.
Buyongjeong Pavilion, Base of Hyangyak
Buyongjeong pavilion is located near the ginkgo tree. It was built by Munbal Kim, civil vassal during the Joseon dynasty. Kim was a forerunner of the Gwangju Hyangyak, a neighborhood self-governing body to strengthen public morality. He constructed this pavilion in memory of Doni Ju who praised lotuses as a flower of virtue in the Chinese North Song dynasty. It has 12 pillars and 3 rooms and preserves precious frames of poems that were sung on this pavilion by such famous scholars as Eungjeong Yang and Gyeongmyeong Go.
Pochungsa Ancestral Shrine
This shrine commemorates 5 patriots including Gyeongmyeong Go, his two sons and Paengno Yu who bravely died fighting the Japanese army in the Joseon dynasty. After the war, the scholars in the southwestern area built this shrine with the governmental support, and it is composed of a shrine with portraits, an old shrine, an exhibition hall, and a memorial monument. In addition, it preserves general Gyeongmyeong Go handwritings such as asang manifestoand the 93 wooden platesAnnual memorial service is held on April 15 every year.
Mangwijeong Pavilion at the pond
Like islands, three pavilions stand between two ponds behind the downtown area in Seha-dong. Mangwijeong was built at the old site of the school of great teacher, Mangwi Changu Jang by his descendents. A small bridge across Mangwijeong leads to the elegant Seuphyanggak building at the center of the pond. Mukamjeongsa pavilion is not so far from Seuphyanggak. These pavilions are enclosed with red flowers in autumn. You can feel the spirit of the ancestors in this extraordinary group of pavilions.
Seochang Folk Culture Town
Take a walk from Mangwijeong to the Seochang folk culture town. The 10 minute walk brings you to a traditional tile-roofed house with low walls. The exhibition hall of old folk crafts at the entrance displays ink stones, ink sticks, female hats, wooden shoes, and traditional stringed instruments. This house was constructed three years ago and has such facilities as lodging rooms and a Korean teahouse.
Gwangsan-gu has produced a lot of great artists including national singer Bangul Im and poet Yonga Yongcheol Park, and they have inspired the patriotism of Koreans under Japanese colonial rule representing their generation. There are memorial monuments of these two masters at Songjeong Park near Gwangju Airport.
Home of Bangul Im, Master of Pansori of a Korean Solo Opera Drama
The master of pansori, Bangul Im (1905~ 1961) was born in Dosan-ri, Suseong-eup, Gwangsan-gu. He expressed the sorrow and regret of Koreans under the harsh colonial rule using his unique vocal techniques. His favorite song of sukdaemeorithrough abdominal breathing is so sad and beautiful and has no parallels. Just as he always said that singers who cannot sing songs are as good as dead, Im had sung songs until he died. Im Bangul Memorial Foundation was established in 1999 and offers Korean music festivals and pansori classes. The foundation also plans to build a Pansori Training Center.
Home of Yongcheol Park, Lyric Poet
Yonga Yongcheol Park (1904~1938) is a great lyric poet and was born in Solmeo-ri, Sochon-dong, Gwangsan-gu. He was at the frontier of Korean modern literature and clearly showed the beauty of the Korean language through such poems as eaving boat and unshine whispering to the stone walls.Unfortunately, this talented aesthete died young at the age of 34. The annual poem contest has been held in memory of Park since 1992. Also, his home was designated as memorial site No. 13, and its straw-thatched roof was perfectly restored. This home was originally built by Park great-great-grandfather and consists of a main building, servants quarters, an ancestral shrine, a study, etc. The house is composed of five kinds of rooms and covered with tall pine trees on the hill at the back. TEL 062-944-1340
Bingwoldang (Wolbongseowon)
Bingwoldang is the name of a hall inside Wolbongseowon Confucian School which houses memorial tablets of famous scholars and officials in the Joseon Dynasty including Park Sang, Park Sun, Kim Jang-saeng and Kim Jip. It was first built in Sinryong-doing in 1578 and was relocated to Wolsan-dong after the 1592 Japanese invasion and finally moved to the current site in 1868 and named Bingwoldang. Thickly planted pine trees and wide open spaces in the vicinity offer a spectacular view.
Pavilion of a Scholar going back to a Rural Life
Pungyeongjeong pavilion is located at the boundary between Mt. Seonchang and Geuknak River. Unfortunately, the view is changed because there is a new high-rise apartment complex behind the pavilion, and the river has been little by little reduced in size and water. However, the pavilion on the riverside still creates a cozy atmosphere for visitors. The tall trees around Pungyeong-jeong offer pleasant shade in summer and give a lovely view of white snow in winter. It was built by Eongeo Kim who was a high-ranking officer during the Joseon dynasty. It possesses many wooden boards where famous writersphrases are written, for example, Seokbong Han eilhosan (best lake and mountain). TEL 062-953-6260
[ Anecdote of Pungyeongjeong ]
King Myeongjong ordered Eongeo Kim to hang a board with the writing of an eccentric genius, Galcheosa on Pungyeongjeong pavilion. Kim tried to see Galcheosa many times, but he was in vain. Finally, on his 14th visit, he received a letter from the hermit who kept asking not to read it . However, Kim could not resist the temptation and carefully opened it. At that moment, the letter of ung (風) disappeared in the air. Kim begged Galcheosa to write it again but was refused. He only managed to get a letter of Wind from one of Galcheosa's pupils. If you closely watch the hanging board at pavilion, you can find out that the letter of Pung (風) is a bit different from others.
Mudeung Pottery, center of celadon during the Goryeo dynasty
The southwestern area and its center Gwangju are well known to have a number of celadon pieces from the Goryeo dynasty. Ceramist, Gijeong Jo was designated as intangible cultural asset No. 5 and has made an earnest effort to reproduce Goryeo celadon. You can not only meet him but also purchase his masterpieces in clay. Also, the crafts and souvenirs shops in Gung-dong and Geumnamno Underground Shopping Center deal in this exquisite celadon. TEL 062-943-0022
Historic Tour, Prehistoric Relics and Seowon, old Confuciaan school
Historic Remains downtown
Gwangsan-gu is being rapidly developed and becoming popular. Historic sites remain between apartment complexes telling of an evanescent life. The Wolgye-dong ancient tombs and Muyang Seowon school are now used for parks and trails for residents near Nambu University in the high-tech district.
Ancient Tombs
Most of Janggobun, which mean ancient tombs in the shape of a trapezoid and a circle, are situated in the hill areas along Yeongsan River. The couple of Janggobun in Wolgye-dong at boundary of the allusion around Yeongsan River is considered to be important for the study of the history of these ancient tombs. The tombs are estimated to have been built in the late 5th century and have yielded such artifacts as round earthenware and bugle-shaped clay sculptures. They also have greatly contributed to an explanation of relations between ancient Korea and Japan because they are similar to Jeonbang-huwonbun tombs in Japan. The area was completely restored after the excavation work was finished in 1995. TEL 062-971-6595
Confucianism school
Muyangseowon is about 100 m (100 yd.) far from the Janggobun site in Wolgye-dong, and it was built by the family of Tamjin Choi under national Confucianists' support in 1927. It was given from the old name of Gwangju, Mujinjiyang (Star of Mujin). The building consists of a shrine, the east classroom, the west classroom, an inner gate, and an auditorium and is surrounded by big and tall trees at its back. Muyangseowon was developed as Muyang park for all citizens with new facilities including a pavilion, a square, and parking lots.
Others
Sinchang-dong historic site has drawn national attention for its precious historic relics of the agricultural society of the early Iron Age. Hogajeong pavilion commands an outstanding scenic view thanks to its location at the foot of Mt. Nopyeong at the joining point of Geuknak River and Hwangryong River. The memorial monument of Chwibyeongjohyeongyuheobi is evaluated as important material for epigraph research. Bingwoldang building was the auditorium of the Wolbong Seowon Confucianism school that produced many scholars and patriots in the Joseon dynasty, and it is located in Gwanggok on a ridge of Mt. Baekun, near Imgok. The affectionate town Gwanggok is surrounded by tall pine tree forests and long stone walls.
[ Treasury portrait of Jachi Oh ]
Jachi Oh, founder of the Naju Oh family was honored as second-class vassal of merit for his work in the suppression of Siae Lee rebellion. Also, King Sejo consigned Oh for a portrait as an award. This painting demonstrates the drawing techniques of the early Joseon dynasty and was designated as treasure No. 1190. Now, it belongs to his 14th grandson who lives in Songsan-dong. TEL062-943-7377
Gossaum Folk Game in Chilseok-dong
