Dong-gu’s Roads of Remembrance

Narrative

In the Dong-gu District of Gwangju, several roads are named after historical figures who played significant roles in the region’s history. Yi Seon-je (1389-1453), a high-ranking official during the early period of the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910), is remembered through Pilmun-daero Road and his shrine in perpetuity. During the Japanese invasions of Korea in the late 16th century, righteous army leaders Go Gyeong-myeong (1533-1592) and Kim Deok-ryeong (1567-1596) fought to defend the country; their names now live on through Jebong-ro and Chungjang-ro Roads, and they are honored at Pochungsa Shrine and Chungjangsa Shrine, respectively. Jeon Sang-ui (1576-1627), a general of the same period, is commemorated through Guseong-ro Road and at Chungminsa Shrine, while Jeong Chung-sin (1576-1636), another military official, is remembered through Geumnam-ro Road. In the modern era, artists Heo Baek-ryeon (1891-1977) and O Ji-ho (1905-1982) are commemorated through Uijae-ro and Jiho-ro Roads, with the Uijae Museum of Korean Art and the O Ji-ho Memorial Museum continuing their cultural legacy. The roads of Dong-gu preserve the lives and spirits of these individuals, weaving their stories into the everyday landscape.