[Live Scenes from Gyeonggi Province ⑩] Provincial Administration History Center

Gyeonggi Province’s signature items and administration supplies from each era displayed

Hands-on experience 1970s administration… Digital photo zones also open

 [Live Scenes from Gyeonggi Province] is a Gyeonggi G-News’ feature series that reports the untold issues and activities of Gyeonggi Province and its subsidiary institutions to readers. For its tenth story, we have prepared a piece on the Gyeonggi Province Administration History Center where you can see the changes in Gyeonggi Province’s administrations in one venue. <From Editor>

◇ Gyeonggi Province Administration History Center showcases the changes in the administrations of Gyeonggi Province through various data collections and records. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Yoo Je-hoon

Gyeonggi Administration History Center, located on the first floor of the Gyeonggi Provincial Academy in Pajang-dong, Jangan-gu, Suwon City, showcases the changes in the history of the administrations of Gyeonggi Province through various data collections and records.

This special place, 546 ㎡ (approximately 165 pyeong) in size, features permanent exhibition space as well as an administration museum and video center. In addition, various records and administration-related artifacts from the Gyeonggi archives have been relocated to the center for display.

The permanent exhibition space is the main exhibition complex that displays various artifacts and data collections from Gyeonggi Province’s history, the changes in its administrations, and the history of interaction in the province. Here one can find a special space called “Narratives of One Thousand Years of Gyeonggi Province” where graphics and mock-ups introduce major historical events and changes in the Gyeonggi Provincial Government.

In particular, a mock-up that represents the old Gyeonggi Provincial Government building grabs attention. It is an unknown fact that this building, which was established in 1910 in Jongno of Seoul, served Gyeonggi provincial administrations until 1967 when the Gyeonggi Provincial Government was relocated to its present location in Suwon City. 

◇ A mock-up of the former Gyeonggi Provincial Government building ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Yoo Je-hoon

Curator Jeon Mi-jin, while introducing a part of history that may not be familiar to the general public, said, “During the Japanese occupation, in an attempt to denounce Korean history and deny the capital, the Japanese Empire moved the Gyeonggi Provincial Government from Suwon to Jongno in Seoul, and transferred the Gyeongsung administration department to Gyeonggi Province. The building was dismantled in the 1990s.”

Since first being named Gyeonggi Province during the Goryeo Dynasty in 1018, the region was divided into two parts: Left Gyeonggi and Right Gyeonggi. It was then referred to as “Gyeonggi Province” for 600 years. Thus the 1000-year history of Gyeonggi Province is comprehensively covered.

After viewing the long history of Gyeonggi Province, a section called “The Leaders of Gyeonggi Province”, which introduces past and present provincial governors, awaits visitors. 

◇ Curator Jeon Mi-jin introduces “The Leaders of Gyeonggi Province” ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Yoo Je-hoon

In the past, the governors oversaw political and administrative activities governing provincial administrations, legislation and military affairs. During the Joseon Dynasty, Gyeonggi Province served a leading role among the eight provinces of the country; all roads passed through Gyeonggi Province, which served as a hub of logitics. The region also served a critical role in foreign affairs and national defense, and the king frequently visited royal tombs in the region. Present Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil is the 690^th governor in the history of the nation.

The section also showcases past and current governors from Ku Ja-ok, the first governor, to Nam Kyung-pil, the 34^thgovernor in the history of the Korean republic. Using a touch screen, one can get a clear visual grasp of the policies and activities each governor pursued during his tenure. 

Of particular note, the appointment certificates of Governor Kim Young-ki and Governor Kim Moon-soo, who were was the first and second governors in the history of Gyeonggi Province to be elected twice, and of present Governor Nam Kyung-pil have been contributed and displayed beside the touchscreen.

In addition, a large picture of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Namhansanseong, which was successfully registered with UNESCO through the efforts of former and present public officers of Gyeonggi Province, attracts attention as well. 

◇ Administration office, supplies and stationery used during the 1970s are displayed. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Yoo Je-hoon

Another attraction is the “Busy Modern Administration” zone where changes in administrations and administration-related supplies are displayed. The zone depicts real scenes from an administration office back in the 1970s, displaying real stationery and office supplies used during that time.

In addition, a photo zone has been established to provide visitors with a vivid experience. With a kiosk that represents a typewriter, one can follow the preparation of administration-related reports written at the time. 

Also, the zone showcases vibrant scenes of the hungry, yet breathtakingly busy days of the 1970s through pictures of the Saemaeul Movement and income-gaining enterprises, as well as the importance of the voices of provincial residents through the large-sized Voice of Inhabitants called Shinmungo.

In the digital photo zone section, one can be photographed while wearing a special costume that symbolizes the officials of the Joseon Dynasty. The picture can be printed or sent via e-mail. 

◇ In the “Gyeonggi Province in the World” zone, one can find diverse information on the interactions and relations between Gyeonggi Province and other regions around the world along with the various gifts received. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Yoo Je-hoon

Passing by “Gyeonggi Province in the World”, where various mementos signify the province’s relations with other regions, one will encounter the “Recapturing the Administration History Building” where visitors can leave a message in a foreign guest book and solve quizzes. Depending on the results of the quizzes, one will be receive a Grade 1, Grade 4 or Grade 9 certificate. 

The administration museum exhibition center called “Learning from the Past for the Future” explains the definition, history, and value of the administration museum. In addition, it showcases the seven types of administration museum display objects (official seal, sample mock-ups, symbols, certificates, office supplies, and others) as well as the administrative museums of the 31 cities and counties of the province.

The administrative museum is a visual record, having more significance as a visual aid compared to general types of records as well as more cultural and artistic value. The symbol-related displays include hanging boards, flags, handwriting and mock-ups related to Gyeonggi Province and its administrative works; Gyeonggi Province’s hanging board inscribed with the actual handwriting of President Park Chung-hee can be found here. 

◇ Gyeonggi Province’s hanging board inscribed with the actual handwriting of former President Park Chung-hee ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Yoo Je-hoon

The city and county museums display many regional records. Shedding light on the key trait of Ansan City, its multicultural background, a picture of the “Daddy Long Legs” character formed with the flags of 59 countries that represent the nationalities of the city’s inhabitants in 2008 is displayed; its copyright certificate, registered with the Korea Copyright Commission, is impressive.  

In the video room, various promotional video clips including the “NEXT Game” are screened. Gyeonggi Province will open the lobby and the video room of the Administration History Center to the public as an “Open Exhibition Center” for club activities and schools tours.

Record Manager Cho Hye-min, anticipating more public interest and visits, said, “Many people think of paper records when they are told about the records; however, Gyeonggi Province has utilized various means including electronics and digital platforms so that visitors can enjoy [the center] conveniently and easily.”

The Administration History Center is open from nine in the morning to six in the evening on weekdays. It is closed on weekends and national holidays. 

More details about the center and tours are available from the Document & Information Support Team of Gyeonggi Province’s General Affairs Divison (031-8008-3481). 

◇ In Digital Photo Zone, visitors can photographed in costumes signifying official government positions during the Joseon Dynasty. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Yoo Je-hoon

ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News | Chun Kyung-nam ckn0403@kg21.net

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201504291128377055C048&s_code=C048