Gangneung Daedohobu Government Office
Historic site, government office ruins · Data as of
At the Gangneung Daedohobu Government Office site you can see, free of charge, the guesthouse gate (gaeksamun), a National Treasure, and government building sites dating back to the Goryeo period. It was founded in 936, the 19th year of King Taejo of Goryeo; today only the gate survives, hung with the Imyeonggwan name board written by King Gongmin. In 1993, an excavation carried out before building Gangneung City Hall revealed important evidence of government buildings from Goryeo to Joseon. It is open from 9:00 to 18:00 and closed on Mondays. It is close to Gangneung Hyanggyo, so the two make a good heritage route in the city center.
- Location
- 강원특별자치도 강릉시 임영로131번길 6
- Opening hours
- 9:00 to 18:00
- Closed
- Mondays
- Admission
- Free
- Contact
- +82-33-640-4468
Official information page (Korean)
What is the Gangneung Daedohobu Government Office?
Short answer: The site of a government office founded in 936, the 19th year of King Taejo of Goryeo. Today the National Treasure gate and the excavated building sites remain.
From the Goryeo to the Joseon period, officials sent from the central government stayed in these buildings in Gangneung. Joseon records say it was founded in 936, the 19th year of King Taejo of Goryeo, but only the guesthouse gate survives today.
An excavation carried out in 1993 for a planned Gangneung City Hall building showed that the site holds important material for research on government buildings from Goryeo to Joseon. Together with the Joseon-era Imyeongji records, it is regarded as a site that tells the history and culture of old Gangneung-bu.
What are the opening hours and admission fee?
Short answer: Admission is free, and it is open from 9:00 to 18:00.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | 강원특별자치도 강릉시 임영로131번길 6 |
| Opening hours | 9:00 to 18:00 |
| Closed | Mondays |
| Admission | Free |
| Contact | +82-33-640-4468 |
It is closed every Monday, so avoid visiting on a Monday; it closes at 18:00. For inquiries, call +82-33-640-4468.
What should I see here?
Short answer: See the guesthouse gate and the restored office site in front of it, and learn the story of the Imyeonggwan name board.
The gate is one of the few Goryeo-period buildings that survive to this day, and it is hung with a name board reading Imyeonggwan, written by King Gongmin. According to the Korea Heritage Service, it is designated a National Treasure, and the whole office site was designated a Historic Site in 1994.
No buildings other than the gate survive, so a visit centers on the excavated site and the gate. Chilsadang, a Treasure, is in the same area.
What heritage designations does it have?
Short answer: Korea Heritage Service records list three designated heritage items around the Gangneung Daedohobu Government Office.
| Designated heritage | Category | Designated on |
|---|---|---|
| Gangneung Daedohobu Government Office | Historic Site | July 11, 1994 |
| Imyeonggwan Sammun Gate, Gangneung | National Treasure | December 20, 1962 |
| Chilsadang, Gangneung | Treasure | December 27, 2021 |
Where can I stay near Gangneung Daedohobu Government Office?
Short answer: The closest is 동아호텔 (hotel), about 3 min walk. These are the 3 closest stays within 1 km.
| Stay | Type | Distance | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| 동아호텔 | Hotel | 262 m | About 3 min walk |
| 강릉관광호텔 | Hotel | 284 m | About 4 min walk |
| 남문로프트 | Hostel | 378 m | About 5 min walk |
Distances are straight-line distances, so the actual route may be longer; walking times assume 80 m per minute. Select a stay to open its page (in Korean) with check-in times and nearby restaurants and cafés. Property names are shown as officially registered in Korean.
Where can I eat or get coffee near Gangneung Daedohobu Government Office?
Short answer: 5 restaurants between 225 m and 291 m, and 5 cafés between 75 m and 169 m, listed from the closest.
| Restaurant | Type | Distance | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| 포개 | Western | 225 m | About 3 min walk |
| 미오과자점 | Café | 227 m | About 3 min walk |
| 장수촌손칼국수 | Kalguksu (noodle soup) | 285 m | About 4 min walk |
| 양지뜰식당 | Korean barbecue | 289 m | About 4 min walk |
| 비노에올리바 ( 와인가게 ) | Outdoor pub | 291 m | About 4 min walk |
| Café | Type | Signature menu | Distance | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 수수다방 | Café | 정보 없음 | 75 m | About 1 min walk |
| 카페객사문 | Café | 에스프레소, 아메리카노 | 90 m | About 1 min walk |
| 앤베이커리&카페 | Bakery café | 아메리카노(HOT), 카페라떼(HOT) | 99 m | About 1 min walk |
| 올드락 | Café | 정보 없음 | 159 m | About 2 min walk |
| 어나더플래닛 | Dessert café | 아메리카노, 카페라떼 | 169 m | About 2 min walk |
Select a name to open its page on our restaurant or café guide (in Korean). The small dots on the map also show nearby places that are not in the tables.
See it on the map
The large purple pin is Gangneung Daedohobu Government Office. Tap a pin to see its name and distance.
What else is there to see near Gangneung Daedohobu Government Office?
Short answer: The closest is Myeongju Art Madang (about 4 min walk), and there are 5 attractions within 4 km.
| Attraction | Type | Distance | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myeongju Art Madang | Arts and culture complex | 353 m | About 4 min walk |
| Ogeumjip Thatched House | Thatched-roof house, cultural heritage | 390 m | About 5 min walk |
| Wolhwa Street | Folktale-themed street | 552 m | About 7 min walk |
| Namsan Park | City park | 667 m | About 8 min walk |
| Gangneung Hyanggyo Confucian School | Confucian school, cultural heritage | 1.2 km | About 15 min walk |
Who is Gangneung Daedohobu Government Office good for?
- Anyone who wants to see a National Treasure building for free
- Those looking for a short heritage walk in central Gangneung
- Anyone planning a half-day route together with Gangneung Hyanggyo
Check before you go
- Check that it is not a Monday, when it is closed
- Be aware that the gate is the only surviving building
Checklist
- Plan your visit for any day except Monday
- Look for the Imyeonggwan name board on the gate
- Pick nearby restaurants and cafés on the map in advance
Photos of Gangneung Daedohobu Government Office
Frequently asked questions
How much is admission?
It is free. It is open from 9:00 to 18:00.
When is it closed?
It is closed every Monday.
What is the guesthouse gate?
One of the few Goryeo-period buildings that survive to this day, hung with the Imyeonggwan name board written by King Gongmin.
Where is the closest place to stay near Gangneung Daedohobu Government Office?
Hotel 동아호텔 is the closest (about 3 min walk). Its page, in Korean, shows the check-in time and nearby restaurants and cafés.
Things to do in Gangneung
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Sources
- Korea Tourism Organization TourAPI, Korean-language tourist information (attraction details) · Korea Tourism Organization · accessed 2026-10-23 (Korean-language source)
- Korea Heritage Open API (heritage list and details) · Korea Heritage Service · accessed 2026-10-23 (Korean-language source)
- Official information page · Operator · accessed 2026-10-23 (Korean-language source)
Fees, hours and closing days can change. Please check with the site before you visit.