근대 이후 서울의 '貞洞洞域' 변천사 연구 = Chung-dong area in Seoul at the enlightenment period

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This research is intended to investigate the changing process of Chung-dong area, which is another center of Kangbuk province (the North of the Han river) of Seoul since the time of enlightenment.
Chung-dong area had been the center of Hanyang, the capital city of Chosun Dynasty, also the old name of seoul, since the foundation of Chosun Dynasty. In modern times it has been a key place of modern history, playing an important role in aspects of architectural history.
From 1883 that Chung-dong area experienced a rapid Change. The next change took place in 1897 when Gojong became an emperor and set up Kyongwungung as new palace. Since 1897 Chung-dong area had become to a central site of Hanyang, the capital. Then it became a very important place politically and diplomatically, and it also has been a vital international stage which was preferred by foreigners. Therefore, it began to be changed with many new buildings and facilities for foreign people. Gradually it was the main base of foreign embassies and christian buildings.
However, Yi-yang-kwan(western style building) was built within the area of Duksoogung as a symbol of civilization. On this imperial family of Chosun Dynasty limited the development and the height of buildings within the area of 500 meters away from Duksoogung.
Japanese government made Duksoogung degraded and finally in 1933 they opened this palace to the public and changed it Japanese style. Soon they built their government offices and had Japanese settlers come in. To establish new roads was also to destroy Korean traditional order.
According to the formal record of American Embassy, there is no other street like this which recalls clearly the atmosphere of the early western buildings in the last a few decades of 19th century. Historic roads were made to be narrowed, enlarged, or closed. As a result the area of Duksoogung has been decreased.
Chung-dong changed from Seodaemun-gu into Choong-gu and Chongro-gu has been in the same area, where is suffering from extreme confusion recently.
Now it is difficult to find the traditional buildings of Chosun Dynasty and many of them which were built in modern times have been destroyed or had severe problems.
The old building of Kyonggi Girls' high school which was a part of Duksoogung is no longer a place to be allowed to enter.
The plan to build American Embassy and apartments should be reconsidered and it is time to restore Duksoogung to its original state including American Embassy site, old Kyonggi Girls' high school, Hanam Hotel and Paichai Hankdang. The area of Duksoogung has been reduced and some parts of it belong to American government. It is the right time for the authorities and NGO to get into stride for 'the movement of returning old Chung-dong'.