Yeonsujeon Hall of Gounsa Temple, Uiseong

Yeonsujeon Hall commemorates the initiation of King Yeongjo and King Gojong of the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) as members of the Society of Elderly Officials. It was established in 1744 and built anew in 1904. The name Yeonsujeon means "Hall of Extended Longevity."

The Society of Elderly Officials, called Giroso in Korean, was a Joseon-period institution that aimed to honor and take care of elderly civil officials. It consisted mostly of civil officials who were over 70 years old and had successfully served in various high official posts. However, some kings who had reached a relatively old age were also admitted as honorary members. Among the Joseon dynasty's twenty-seven kings, four were initiated as members of this society, namely Taejo (1335-1408, r. 1392-1398), Sukjong (1661-1720, r. 1674-1720), Yeongjo (1694-1776, r. 1724-1776), and Gojong (1852-1919, r. 1863-1907). The admittance of a king into this society was considered a national celebration, and buildings such as this one were constructed to commemorate the event. Yeonsujeon Hall of Gounsa Temple is the only extant commemorative hall of this sort to retain its function, as the only other extant building of this sort, located at Songgwangsa Temple in Suncheon, has since been converted into a Buddhist worship hall. Yeonsujeon Hall consists of a room in the center surrounded on all sides by wide wooden verandas. In the back of the room, there is a niche shrine that houses documents recording the given names, posthumous names, and temple names of the four kings who were admitted into the Society of Elderly Officials. Since the building is related to the Joseon royal family, it differs from the temple's other buildings. For example, it faces directly south and is surrounded by a stone enclosure wall with a large raised gate. The walls, pillars, and ceiling are also elaborately decorated with multicolored patterns and murals that evoke the status of the kings and wish for good health, long life, wealth, and prosperity.

Source: Korea Heritage Service signboard ↗ · collected 2026-10-08