The heart of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province has now moved from Daegu to Andong.
On Feb. 22, the provincial government officially left Sangyeok-dong in Buk-gu District, Daegu, a neighborhood in which it had resided for about 50 years, and built a new location in Pungcheong-myeon, Andong-si.
“This relocation marks a milestone in our more-than-700 years of history, that date back to 1314 when the province was given the name of Gyeongsang-do,” said Governor Kim Kwan-yong of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. “We will usher in the beginning of a new millennium with a brighter future by bringing together our communities.”
The province covers some 19,029 square kilometers, the largest geographically among the 17 provinces and metropolitan areas across the nation. Physically, the province is about 31 times as big as Seoul.
The province traces its history back to 1314, the first year of the reign of King Chungsuk (1294-1339), the 27th Goryeo monarch. At that time, the province was named Gyeongsang-do, the acronym for the cities of Gyeongju and Sangju. In 1407, the province was divvied up into two sides along the Nakdonggang River, labeled Gyeongsangjwa-do on the left bank and Gyeongsangwu-do on the right bank. After years of being divided into two and then merged into one, the region formed together again in 1594 and built Gyeongsanggamyeong, the main government building in Palgeo-hyeon, Seongju, currently in Chilgok-gun County. That office was relocated to Andong in 1599 and then to Daegu in 1601.
In 1910, the provincial office took on a new name, Gyeongsangbuk-do Cheongsa, and moved to Pojeong-dong, Jung-gu District, Daegu, the current Gyeongsanggamyeong Park. In 1966, the building moved again to Sangyeok-dong in Buk-gu District, and it has stayed there for 50 years.
The new provincial government building in Andong has been welcoming more than 20,000 tourists a month since it was completed in April last year. The Hanok-style building, with about 650,000 traditional giwa tiles on its roof, is eye-catching enough to draw attention from visitors to the Andong Hahoe Folk Village, one of the must-visit tourist sites of the city. There, clan-based traditional homes and folk traditions, such as mask dances, have been kept alive all these years.
The charms of these traditions are embedded in each building at the new provincial government complex. The complex, housing a total space of 143,747 square meters, consists of four buildings: a main building, the provincial assembly, a community center and the arts hall.
In front of the buildings unfolds a landscape with a lake and a garden. Before you enter the main building, you will encounter a long corridor, called the Hoerang, a common architecture set up around palaces or temples from Joseon times to ward away evil spirits and to embrace good ones.
The title of each building has a meaning of its own, as well. The main gate leading to the office building -- 17 meters wide and 8 meters high -- was named the Gyeonghwamun (경화문, 慶和門), a title which embodies the province's desire to unite its people.
The office building is called the Anmingwan (안민관, 安民館), in the sense that the government will serve the people well. The auditorium on the fourth floor there is called the Hwabaekdang (화백당, 和白堂) and was named after the Hwabaek, a royal council with decision-making authorities during the Silla Kingdom. Finally, the Daedong Madang (대동마당) is the front open area, representing the hope that we will live in union together.
As it ushers in a new era for the provincial government, the province will now serve as a pivot in terms of a balanced national development. The Gyeongsangbuk-do office building is now geographically closer to both the national capital and to Chungcheong Province, which brings that region more benefits. The building is at the same latitude of 36 degrees north as the government complex in Sejong City, 108 kilometers away.
The province also plans to participate in a traffic network that will allow people to reach anywhere across the nation in just two hours.
By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Gyeongsangbuk-do
jiae5853@korea.kr
On Feb. 22, the provincial government officially left Sangyeok-dong in Buk-gu District, Daegu, a neighborhood in which it had resided for about 50 years, and built a new location in Pungcheong-myeon, Andong-si.
“This relocation marks a milestone in our more-than-700 years of history, that date back to 1314 when the province was given the name of Gyeongsang-do,” said Governor Kim Kwan-yong of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. “We will usher in the beginning of a new millennium with a brighter future by bringing together our communities.”
The new government building of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province in Pungcheon-myeon, Andong-si, emits the beauty of tradition as it upholds its traditional tiled roof.
The province covers some 19,029 square kilometers, the largest geographically among the 17 provinces and metropolitan areas across the nation. Physically, the province is about 31 times as big as Seoul.
The province traces its history back to 1314, the first year of the reign of King Chungsuk (1294-1339), the 27th Goryeo monarch. At that time, the province was named Gyeongsang-do, the acronym for the cities of Gyeongju and Sangju. In 1407, the province was divvied up into two sides along the Nakdonggang River, labeled Gyeongsangjwa-do on the left bank and Gyeongsangwu-do on the right bank. After years of being divided into two and then merged into one, the region formed together again in 1594 and built Gyeongsanggamyeong, the main government building in Palgeo-hyeon, Seongju, currently in Chilgok-gun County. That office was relocated to Andong in 1599 and then to Daegu in 1601.
In 1910, the provincial office took on a new name, Gyeongsangbuk-do Cheongsa, and moved to Pojeong-dong, Jung-gu District, Daegu, the current Gyeongsanggamyeong Park. In 1966, the building moved again to Sangyeok-dong in Buk-gu District, and it has stayed there for 50 years.
The new provincial government building in Andong has been welcoming more than 20,000 tourists a month since it was completed in April last year. The Hanok-style building, with about 650,000 traditional giwa tiles on its roof, is eye-catching enough to draw attention from visitors to the Andong Hahoe Folk Village, one of the must-visit tourist sites of the city. There, clan-based traditional homes and folk traditions, such as mask dances, have been kept alive all these years.
The charms of these traditions are embedded in each building at the new provincial government complex. The complex, housing a total space of 143,747 square meters, consists of four buildings: a main building, the provincial assembly, a community center and the arts hall.
In front of the buildings unfolds a landscape with a lake and a garden. Before you enter the main building, you will encounter a long corridor, called the Hoerang, a common architecture set up around palaces or temples from Joseon times to ward away evil spirits and to embrace good ones.
The Gyeonghwamun Gate leads to the new Gyeongsangbuk-do government offices. Its name means, ‘The Unity of the Gyeongsangbuk-do People.’
The title of each building has a meaning of its own, as well. The main gate leading to the office building -- 17 meters wide and 8 meters high -- was named the Gyeonghwamun (경화문, 慶和門), a title which embodies the province's desire to unite its people.
The office building is called the Anmingwan (안민관, 安民館), in the sense that the government will serve the people well. The auditorium on the fourth floor there is called the Hwabaekdang (화백당, 和白堂) and was named after the Hwabaek, a royal council with decision-making authorities during the Silla Kingdom. Finally, the Daedong Madang (대동마당) is the front open area, representing the hope that we will live in union together.
As it ushers in a new era for the provincial government, the province will now serve as a pivot in terms of a balanced national development. The Gyeongsangbuk-do office building is now geographically closer to both the national capital and to Chungcheong Province, which brings that region more benefits. The building is at the same latitude of 36 degrees north as the government complex in Sejong City, 108 kilometers away.
The province also plans to participate in a traffic network that will allow people to reach anywhere across the nation in just two hours.
Behind the new provincial government building for Gyeongsangbuk-do Province emerges Geommusan Mountain, at 332 meters.
The new provincial government building for Gyeongsangbuk-do Province lights up the night in Andong.
By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Gyeongsangbuk-do
jiae5853@korea.kr
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