The mansion was originally built in 1938 as the luxury residence of mining magnate Choi Chang-hak.
During the occupation period, the building was confiscated by the Japanese military for officer housing.
The basement of the house served as an air-raid shelter during the Korean War, leaving behind original graffiti on the walls.
Bullet holes from Kim Koo's 1949 assassination were discovered during the building's 2013 restoration and are marked for visitors to see.
It served as the first meeting place for the U.S.-Soviet Joint Commission in 1946.
The house was designated as a Historic Site of South Korea in 2005.
Despite being a center of political power, the residence itself was repurposed as a hospital and kindergarten for decades before its restoration.
The architectural style represents a mix of early 20th-century Western residential influence integrated into a Korean urban context.
Gyeonggyojang House served as the provisional office and residence of Kim Koo, the leader of the Korean Provisional Government, after his return from exile in 1945. It is a Western-style mansion constructed in the late 1930s, originally owned by the businessman Choi Chang-hak. The building functioned as the de facto headquarters for the independence movement during the lead-up to the establishment of the Republic of Korea. It is the site where Kim Koo was assassinated in 1949, and his office, study, and bedroom have been meticulously restored to their 1940s appearance. The interior displays original documents, photographs, and artifacts related to the fight for independence against Japanese colonial rule. The site is currently managed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and acts as a museum documenting the transition to a modern Korean state. Its location at the base of the Samsung Hospital complex marks a site of significant political importance in modern Korean history.
The restored 1940s-era study desk of Kim Koo, which captures the period-accurate lighting and interior design.
Focus on the basement level to see the preserved air-raid shelter which provides a visceral look at the wartime era.
Use the provided historical placards to identify the specific office furniture used by Kim Koo during key diplomatic negotiations.
Combine your visit with a walk through the adjacent Gyeonghuigung Palace grounds.
Do not mistake the modern office building entrance for the museum entrance; use the historical mansion's dedicated entryway.
Closed on Mondays and major public holidays.
Maintain a quiet tone as this is a memorial site; do not touch the preserved artifacts or furniture exhibits.
