Gwangtonggwan
| Gwangtonggwan | |
|---|---|
Gwangtonggwan | |
Jung-gu, Seoul | |
| Coordinates | 37°34′03″N 126°58′59″E / 37.56750°N 126.98306°E |
| Construction started | February 1908 |
| Completed | 1909 |
| Renovated | 1915 |
| Owner | Woori Bank |
| Technical details | |
| Floor area | 774 square meters |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Takjibu, Korean Empire |
Gwangtonggwan (Korean: 광통관; Hanja: 廣通館), located in Seoul, is one of Korea's oldest bank buildings. Its address is 19 Namdaemunno 1-ga, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea.[1] Currently the Woori Bank's Jongno Branch, it is also the oldest continuously operating bank building in Korea.[2]
Constructed in 1909, Gwangtonggwan is one of the few surviving examples of Korea's early 20th century western architecture. In recognition of the building's architectural and historic importance, Gwangtonggwan was registered as the one of city's protected monuments on March 5, 2001.[3]
History
Gwangtonggwan was built in 1909 originally as a head office for Daehan Cheon-il Bank and Suhyeongjohap.
However, a fire occurred in February 1914, and the building's detail was much altered from its original form when it was restored and reopened in 1915.[1] Since this building was located near Gwangtonggyo Bridge, a historic and important bridge of Seoul that crosses Cheonggyecheon, it came to be called as "Gwangtonggwan."[1] The Korean term "gyo (교; 橋)" translates in English as "bridge," while "gwan" (관; 館) translates as "building" or "house."
Following Japan's annexation of Korean Empire in 1910, Cheon-il Bank changed its name to Joseon Sangup Bank in 1911,[citation needed] and moved its head offices from Gwangtonggwan to a different location in 1924. The building therefore became the Sangup Bank's Jongno branch on August 31, 1924.[5]
Joseon Sangup bank changed its name to Hanguk Sangup Bank (also known as Commercial Bank of Korea) when Korea was liberated, changed its name to Hanbit Bank in 1998, and then again to Woori Bank in 2002,[citation needed] but Gwangtonggwan still maintains and continues its banking operations as a Jongno branch.[4]
Architecture
Mainly built from red bricks and granite, the Gwangtonggwan building has a symmetrical layout which roughly covers 774 square meters.[1] The first floor of this building was designed and served as a bank, while the second floor was designed for conference rooms and offices.[4]
When it was originally constructed in 1909, the building had
Rejecting references to a traditional Korean architecture, the architects designed Gwangtonggwan in an eclectic and westernized style. The main entrance is flanked by two Tuscan columns, and its entablature bears an inscription, "朝鮮商業銀行鐘路支店" (조선상업은행 종로지점; Joseon Sangup Bank Jongno Branch), inscribed from right to left following the old Korean tradition of writing. Two other entrances on either side of the main entrance also are flanked by two Tuscan columns, but are no longer used as entrances.
References
- ^ a b c d e "광통관 廣通館 (Gwangtonggwan)". Seoul Metropolitan Government. 2003. Archived from the original on November 24, 2004. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
- Kyunghyang Sinmun.
- ^ a b "광통관 (廣通館) (Gwangtonggwan)". Cultural Heritage Administration. 2002. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
- ^ a b c "구 광통관 (舊 廣通館, 현 우리은행 종로지점) (Old Gwangtonggwan; The Woori Bank Jongno Branch)". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
- ^ a b The inscriptions on the plaques and sign near Gwangtonggwan.