One warm, sunlit afternoon, I visited Mokgwana in downtown Jeju. I’m heading into my 7th year of living on Jeju, but it feels like there are still so many places I haven’t seen or truly taken in yet.
Jejumok Gwana is a government office complex where the Jeju Magistrate (Jejumoksa) carried out official duties during the Joseon Dynasty, serving as a key historical space at the heart of administration, military affairs, and trials in Jeju. Today, restoration projects have reconstructed the office buildings of the period, allowing visitors to vividly feel the atmosphere of the time along with Jeju’s traditional architectural style. Major buildings inside include Honghwagak, Yeonhuigak, and Gyullimdang, offering a glimpse into what a Joseon-era local government office in Jeju looked like. At night, lighting enhances the tranquil ambiance, and it is also a popular stop on Old Downtown Jeju itineraries. It is close to Dongmun Market, Gwandeokjeong Pavilion, and Sanjicheon Stream, making it easy to explore together, and is a signature cultural heritage attraction for a deeper experience of Jeju’s history and culture.
플레이스 보기Mokgwana sits right in the middle of what used to be old Jeju City. I’m grateful that a place like this can still keep its presence in such a busy neighborhood.
Many people refer to it simply as “Mokgwana,” as if it were a single proper name. But Mokgwana actually means the government offices of Jejumok—under the Joseon-era administrative system of 1 mok and 2 hyeon, it referred to the official complex in Jejumok that governed Jeju.
Right on time, the plum blossoms welcomed us. During the Japanese colonial period, everything except Gwandokjeong was dismantled, leaving only the site behind—but excavations later made it possible to restore the main buildings.
Somehow, seeing quiet roof tiles instead of tall buildings brings a sense of calm. Maybe it’s just that I’m getting older. Only now do I vividly remember how, as a child, the sky I looked up at while sitting on my grandmother’s wooden floor met the roof tiles at the ends of the eaves.
On a spring day when warmth wrapped around me, the sky was crystal clear, and the earth offered up fresh new greens, it was a wonderful place for a quiet walk.
제주살이 10년 차, 일상 속 여행을 기록하는 크리에이터입니다. 바다와 바람, 낯선 골목에 스며든 제주를 좋아하고, 그 안에서 느꼈던 순간들을 글과 사진으로 전하고 있어요. 여행지보다는 여행의 온도를 담는 일을 합니다.
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1복원없이 600년 가까이 지낸 관덕정이 궁금해집니다. 기둥에 손을 대어 보면 오랜 이야기가 전해 질 것만 같습니다. 오래된 기와며 추녀, 그림처럼 어울리는 새까지 아름다운 사진과 글 잘 보았습니다.