Address : 42 Bukmun-gil, Ganghwa-eup, Ganghwagun, Incheon
Admission Fee: Free
Operating Hours:
Nov-Feb 09:00~17:00
Mar-May, Sep-Oct : 09:00~18:00
Jun-Aug :08:30~18:30
Closed N/A (Open all year round)
Admission Fees : 900 won for adults, 600 won for youth
Interpretation Services Offered Not available
Directions
[Subway + Bus]
From Seoul to Ganghwa
1) Sinchon Station (Seoul Subway Line 2), Exit 4.
– Go straight 260m to arrive at the bus stop in front of Artreon.
– From the bus stop, take Bus 3000 to Ganghwa Bus Terminal.
2) Yeongdeungpo Station (Seoul Subway Line 1).
– Across from Shinsegae Department Store, take Bus 88 to Ganghwa Terminal.
[Taxi]
From Ganghwa Bus Terminal, take a taxi to Goryeogung Palace Site. (10min)
Introduction:
Goryeogung Palace Site on Ganghwado Island is the site of the royal palace where the people of the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) resisted the Mongolian invasion for 39 years. In June 1232, King Gojong moved his capital to Ganghwa on account of its natural and strategic advantages. The construction of the government office and the royal palace in Ganghwa was completed in 1234. Ganghwado Island holds historical significance as the place where metal type was developed and where the PalmanDaejanggyeong (the TripitakaKoreana printing woodblocks) were made during the Goryeo dynasty. Upon the conclusion of the peace treaty with Mongolian forces in May 1270, the capital was moved back to Gaeseong (present-day Gaeseong in North Korea), and the royal palace in Ganghwa was subsequently destroyed.
In the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897), Haenggung (the king’s temporary palace) was constructed on the same site as the Goreyo palace. During the Byeongjahoran (Chinese invasion of Korea) in 1637, the palace was conquered by the force of Ching dynasty of China. Afterward, GanghwaYusubu (Ganghwa governor’s office) buildings were built on the palace site. Nowadays, the only structures that remain are the Dongheon main office (built in 1638) and Ibangcheong administration office (built in 1654). The palace and its subsidiary buildings were restored in 1977.
Gallery *Click images to enlarge
Ganghwa Island is an island in the estuary of the Han River, on the west coast of South Korea. Ganghwa Island is separated from Gimpo, on the mainland, by a narrow channel, which is spanned by two bridges. The main channel of the Han River separates the island from Gaeseong in North Korea.
About 65,500 people live on the island. With an area of 302.4 km2 (116.8 sq mi), it constitutes most of Ganghwa County, a division of Incheon Municipality. About half of the island’s population reside in Ganghwa-eup, Ganghwa Town, in the northeastern part of the island. The island’s highest point is Mani-san, 469 m (1,539 ft) above sea level. The island measures 28 kilometres (17 mi) long and 22 kilometres (14 mi) wide, and is the 4th largest island in South Korea.
Historically, it is significant as being the location of separate punitive incursions; by the French in 1866, the United States in 1871, and the Japanese in 1875 when Korea was emerging from isolation.
