Venue

Gangneung-daedohobu Government Office served as the administrative office for major local districts from the Goryeo Dynasty to the Joseon Dynasty. Imyeongji (Chronicles of Imyeong), written during the Joseon era, highlights the office’s great significance, providing insight into the history and culture of old Gangneung-bu, the administrative area of Gangneung in the past. Imyeonggwan Guesthouse enshrined ancestral tablets representing the king and is divided into three areas: Dongheon (magistrate’s office), Chilsadang (government office), and Imhaegwan (office near the ocean). The Dongheon building is used for reenactments of traditional ceremonies, as well as for various cultural events, while its annex serves as a small library open to local residents and tourists. Chilsadang, a place where ajeons (petty officials)​
managed seven categories of administrative affairs, lacks dancheong (the traditional decorative painting on Korean architecture).​
One of the key structures of Imyeonggwan is Gaeksamun (Main Gate of Imyeonggwan Guesthouse, National Treasure No. 51). It is one of the few surviving buildings from the Goryeo Dynstay and features a plaque reading “Imyeonggwan,” inscribed by the King Gongmin. Gaeksamun has remained intact and served as a reference for restoration, even after most of the buildings dismantled during the Japanese colonial era. The Imyeonggwan buildings have been restored over the past 20 years.​
Gangneung-daedohobu Government Office, a historic site with great importance, is being presented as an exhibition space for the Gangneung International Art Festival 2025(GIAF25). The festival connects this historical site with modern art, offering new perspectives and experiences while reimagining the site’s history and artistic values.

YUN Suknam
Hong Lee Hyunsook
Hrair Sarkissian
Minok AN