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Joseon royal shrine returns home after a century in Japan

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By Baek Byung-yeul
  • Published Jun 24, 2025 4:08 pm KST
  • Updated Jun 24, 2025 5:51 pm KST
Choi Eung-chon, center, administrator of the Korea Heritage Service, poses with Takao Sato, left, chief priest of Japan’s Kotoku-in Temple, and Kim Jung-hee, chair of the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, after signing the donation agreement for the transfer of Gwanwoldang royal shrine at the National Palace Museum of Korea in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Korea Heritage Service

Choi Eung-chon, center, administrator of the Korea Heritage Service, poses with Takao Sato, left, chief priest of Japan’s Kotoku-in Temple, and Kim Jung-hee, chair of the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, after signing the donation agreement for the transfer of Gwanwoldang royal shrine at the National Palace Museum of Korea in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Korea Heritage Service

Gwanwoldang, a royal shrine from the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty, has returned to Korea nearly 100 years after it was taken to Japan during the colonial era. This marks the first time a complete Korean building has been repatriated from abroad, setting a new model for international cooperation in cultural heritage preservation.

The Korea Heritage Service (KHS) and the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation (OKCHF) announced Tuesday that they had formally received the disassembled components of the Gwanwoldang building from Kotoku-in Temple in Kamakura, Japan.

The repatriation was made possible through an agreement with the temple’s chief priest Takao Sato. The shrine's parts are now stored at the Korea Foundation for Traditional Architecture and Technology in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, where the restoration process is set to begin.

"This return is a meaningful achievement, made possible by the sincere cooperation of the owner and the ongoing efforts of both Korean and Japanese experts. It stands as a model case of mutual respect and understanding through cultural heritage," Choi Eung-chon, administrator of the KHS, said during a press conference at the National Palace Museum of Korea in Seoul Tuesday.

Kim also expressed hope that the return of Gwanwoldang, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation and the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan diplomatic normalization, will serve as a symbol of cultural solidarity and future-oriented cooperation between the two countries.

This photo shows Gwanwoldang as it stood at Kotoku-in Temple in Japan, where the Joseon-era royal shrine remained for over 100 years before its return to Korea. Courtesy of Korea Heritage Service

This photo shows Gwanwoldang as it stood at Kotoku-in Temple in Japan, where the Joseon-era royal shrine remained for over 100 years before its return to Korea. Courtesy of Korea Heritage Service

Gwanwoldang is a single-story wooden structure built in the late Joseon period, featuring a gabled roof and a layout of three bays across the front and two along the side. Architectural analysis indicates it was constructed as a royal shrine for the daegun (grand prince) level, a status just below that of the king.

It is believed the building once stood in Seoul. KHS describes historical records suggesting that Joseon Siksan Bank, active during the 1910-45 Japanese occupation of Korea, transferred its ownership to Kisei Sugino, the first president of Yamaichi Securities, in 1924.

The building was then relocated to Tokyo and donated to Kotoku-in Temple in the 1930s, where it served as a prayer hall enshrining a statue of Avalokitesvara for over 90 years.

The return of Gwanwoldang was initiated by the chief priest of Kotoku-in, who concluded that the shrine should be preserved in its country of origin.

"Through this collaborative project with Korea, the historical value of the building became much clearer," Sato said during the press conference. "I deeply agreed that returning Gwanwoldang to Korea was the best way to ensure its preservation, and I decided to donate it."

The KHS added Sato personally paid the costs of dismantling and shipping, underscoring his commitment to the repatriation.

The disassembled components of Gwanwoldang, a Korean royal shrine that spent over a century in Japan, are now preserved at the Korea Foundation for Traditional Architecture and Technology in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Courtesy of Korea Heritage Service

The disassembled components of Gwanwoldang, a Korean royal shrine that spent over a century in Japan, are now preserved at the Korea Foundation for Traditional Architecture and Technology in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Courtesy of Korea Heritage Service

For several years, the KHS and the OKCHF diligently built trust with Kotoku-in. Their efforts included joint surveys, documentation and conservation work with Korean experts directly involved on-site. Their research showed that while Gwanwoldang’s wooden frame is relatively simple, its interior features elements typical of royal architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Roof tiles decorated with dragon, spider, demon and bat motifs, along with multiple layers of "dancheong" (traditional Korean multicolored paintwork), further indicate its high status. Pigment analysis suggests the building was repainted several times between the late 18th and 19th centuries. Research also revealed some modifications made after the shrine’s relocation to Japan.

Stating that further research is planned as the restoration proceeds, the KHS said no original construction records or naming plaques were found during the building’s dismantling, leaving unanswered questions about its original name, exact location and the royal figure it honored.