National Heritage Media Art: Yeosu Jinnamgwan
🗓️ 2026.10.09 ~ 2026.11.08
The 2026 National Heritage Media Art Yeosu is a nighttime cultural event that illuminates the national heritage of Yeosu alongside the stories of Yi Sun-sin and the Jeolla Left Naval Base. Under the theme “Jinnamgwan, Reconstructed with Light,” the event runs from October 9 to November 8, 2026, across the grounds of Jinnamgwan, Gosodae, and Yi Sun-sin Square. Drawing on the historical character and spatial features of these key sites, the exhibition expresses the Nanjung Ilgi (War Diary of Yi Sun-sin), the admiral’s devotion to the people, and the voyage of the Turtle Ship through projected images and light.
Jinnamgwan itself is a fitting centerpiece. Originally built in 1598 and rebuilt in 1718, it is the largest single-story wooden pavilion in Korea and served as the command post of the Jeolla Left Naval Base during the Imjin War. This architectural history gives the media projections an uncommon depth: the building is not merely a screen, but the very place where the events depicted were once commanded.
The event consists of three main media art installations, each tailored to its location:
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Jinnamgwan: Reconstruct with Immortal Light — The pavilion’s grand wooden structure becomes a canvas for imagery drawn from the Nanjung Ilgi and the spirit of the admiral who commanded from this very spot.
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Gosodae: Light of Love for the People, Formed on the Land — The commemorative pavilion and its protected tree at Gosodae are incorporated into a work centered on Yi Sun-sin’s care for the common people, a theme that resonates strongly in the historical record of his campaigns.
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Yi Sun-sin Square Turtle Ship: Light of the Square, Spreading to the City — A media facade depicts the Turtle Ship’s voyage through rough seas, extending the story outward from the square into the surrounding city.
Beyond the projections, the event also operates programs that link viewing with hands-on participation:
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AI Meta-human Yi Sun-sin — An experience program where visitors can converse with Yi Sun-sin, recreated as an AI meta-human, displayed on a large monitor inside the Jinnamgwan Artifact Exhibition Hall.
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Stamp Tour — A participatory program that guides visitors to collect stamps by visiting three points: Jinnamgwan, Tarubi, and the Turtle Ship.
During the weekends of the event period, additional experience programs and flea markets operate alongside the main exhibition, giving local visitors and travelers alike more reasons to linger in the historic district after dark.
📍 Address: 11 Dongmun-ro (Gunja-dong), Yeosu-si, Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City
🛏️ Accommodation near the event
💰 Fee: Free
📞 Inquiry: 070-8064-0807
⭐️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/media_art_yeosu/
What is Jinnamgwan?
Jinnamgwan is a government hall in Yeosu, South Korea. During the Joseon Dynasty, it served as the headquarters of the Jeolla Left Naval Station, the command post from which Admiral Yi Sun-sin directed naval operations during the Imjin War (1592–1598). The building is associated with the planning and coordination of several engagements along the southern coast, including battles in which Korean forces disrupted Japanese supply lines.
The hall is among the largest single-story wooden buildings in Korea. Its wide façade and regularly spaced columns give it an imposing, formal character appropriate to a command center. The structure was rebuilt in 1718 after a fire, and it has been designated National Treasure No. 304. Its preservation reflects both its architectural value and its place in Korean maritime history.
Jinnamgwan is now part of the 2026 National Heritage Media Art Yeosu. The event uses the building as a backdrop for projected light and media installations that illustrate the site’s history. The program is intended to make the heritage accessible to contemporary audiences while keeping the building itself the focus of the presentation.
