Wolgangsa Shrine

About this place

Wolgangsa is the site where Choe Gyeonghoe, the former county magistrate of Jangsu and commander of the Jeolla eastern-northern defense during the Imjin War, set up his righteous army headquarters (changuiso), recruited volunteers, drilled troops, and built a command platform (jangdae — a raised platform from which a commander issued orders). A jangdae is an elevated platform from which a commander stood to issue orders. Choe Gyeonghoe was born in Neungju (present-day South Jeolla Province), passed the licentiate examination in 1561 (the 16th year of King Myeongjong), and passed the civil service examination in 1567. When the Imjin War broke out, he recruited volunteers and performed outstanding military service, but when Jinjuseong Fortress fell, he threw himself into the Namgang River to preserve his loyalty. In 1828 (the 28th year of King Sunjo), a shrine was established here with approval from the Board of Rites, and in 1868 (the 5th year of King Gojong) it was demolished. After liberation, it was rebuilt. Inside the shrine are enshrined the memorial tablets of four influential figures: Jeong Sinjae Baekjang, Toehyujae Song Hyeonsan, Sonjae Kim Namtaek, and Ilhyudang Choe Gyeonghoe.