Once, this place was known as Hyochangwon. It housed royal tombs. Now, we stand before Hyochang Community Center. It is a place rich with history. It is a place of leisure and remembrance.
Hyochang Park is nearby. It spans across Hyochang-dong. The park covers 122,245 square meters. Hyochangwon was the name of this area. It was a historic landmark.
Crown Prince Munhyo was buried here. He was King Jeongjo’s first son. The prince died at age five. Royal Noble Consort Uibin of the Seong Clan was also buried here. She was King Jeongjo’s royal concubine. She was Crown Prince Munhyo’s mother. Royal Noble Consort Sugui of the Park Clan was here too. She was King Sunjo’s royal concubine. Her daughter Princess Yeongon was buried here as well.
The Japanese empire began developing Hyochangwon into a park in 1924. The Japanese governor-general officially made it a park in 1940. The royal tombs were moved. They went to Seooreung Tombs. This happened in the waning months of the Japanese colonial period.
After Korea’s liberation, patriots were buried in Hyochang Park. These included Yoon Bong-gil and Lee Bong-chang. Baek Jeong-gi was also buried here. Their graves are known as Samuisa Tomb. A statue of Lee Bong-chang stands in the graveyard. Kim Gu is interred in the park. Some key figures of the provisional government are here too. These are Lee Dong-nyeong, Cha I-seok, and Cho Seong-hwan.
Uiyeolsa is an ancestral shrine. It stands near the main gate. It holds portraits of the deceased independence activists. Memorial services are annually held for them.
This area went by several names. These include Hyochangmyo and Kuyongsan’goji. Crown Prince Munhyo and his mother were buried here in the 19th century.
In 1921, the Japanese colonial government built Korea’s first golf course here. The graves were directly on the course. In 1940, it became a park. The graves were moved out in 1944. After 1945, eight independence activists were buried here.
Hyochang Park is a Historic Site of South Korea. It was designated in 1989. The park has a large pine forest. It also has cherry blossom trees. There are over 100,000 trees of 70 species. There are children’s playgrounds and badminton courts. A senior citizens’ association is here too.
The Kim Koo Museum is in Hyochang Park. It opened in October 2002. A statue of Lee Bong-chang stands before the museum. Uiyeolsa is a hanok-style temple. Seven independence activists are enshrined here. The gate Changyeolmun is at the park.
King Jeongjo wanted the location of Munhyo’s grave to be auspicious. He wanted it close to the palace. He visited the site thrice. He liked the sunny hill and the view of the Han River.
The area was disturbed during the First Sino-Japanese War. It was also disturbed during the Russo-Japanese War. Japan’s presence in Korea also caused disturbance. In 1894, Japanese troops stationed here. They removed woods. In 1906, the Japanese military built a base nearby.
Today, Hyochang Community Center stands as a testament. It is a testament to the past. It is a vibrant hub for the present. It symbolizes resilience and community spirit. Remember the stories within these grounds. They connect us to Korea’s complex past.