고종 황제가 慶運宮을 세운 뜻 - 克日과 對淸 독립 의지-

Abstract

Gyeong'un Palace became the main palace of the Great Han Empire(Korean Empire), with three aims of relations with China, self-reliance, and independence,expressing determination not only to embracing new civilization of the West, but also to overcome Japan after the Japanese invasion to Korea, especially, after the assassination of Empress Myong-Seong during the reign of King Gojong. This makes Gyeong'un Palace as a place to be commemorated and preserved as a historic site of the establishment of a modern state. Nonetheless, even the name was changed to Deoksu Palace (Deoksugung),and the Wongudan Heaven Altar and other major architectures surrounding it were destroyedeokor are on the verge of loss. As for the Wongudan Heaven Altar,the most symbolic icon, the Japanese changed its status as a property owned by the state from one owned by the Department of the Royal Household in order to leave the property at the Residency-General's disposal. Then, they finally tore it down to build the Railroad Hotel in 1913 on the spot. It was a return to Nambyeolgung, where royal envoys from Ching Dynasty stayed before the Wongudan Heaven Altar. In other words, they built an ultra modern accommodation where high-ranking officials from the Empire of Japan, the new colonial ruler of Joseon Korea,came to Seoul by the Gyeongbu line train and stayed. The space of the whole Jeong-dong area centering on Gyeong'un Palace is a place, which was filled with the Great Han Empire's strong will to modernize and struggles to establish itself as a self-reliant independent nation, breaking away from pressures from Ching Dynasty and Japan. Also, it is the place where the history of violence took place, when the aggression policy of Japan broke down the will of the Great Han Empire and annexed it into Japan. The history of violence, which took place in the very early 20th century, still remains as an unresolved old issue between Korea and Japan. Gyeong'un Palace and Jeong-dong are places with cultural historic scent of the original place where Korea embraced new civilization from the West in the late 19th century and early 20th century. On the other hand, in Koreans' memory, it is a place where expansionism by Japan, which imitated imperialism, left its footprints scattered all over the place. Since the memory of the latter can only be changed by Japan, I sincerely hope that Japanese have an authentic appreciation of the space.