Gimpo Art Village (김포 아트빌리지)

Overview

Gimpo Art Village features various culture and arts experience sites, an art center exhibition hall where high-quality exhibits can be enjoyed, an outdoor performing stage that can accommodate up to 1,000 people at once, and a traditional play experience ground. The Village also has a traditional hanok stay experience hall, multipurpose hall and practice rooms where art clubs and organizations can engage in creative activities to their heart's content, a VR (virtual reality) experience hall for people of all ages and genders, and many other spaces for culture and arts for citizens to enjoy in the midst of their lives. Historical background: The Unyang-dong part of Modamsan Mountain where Gimpo Art Village is located is speculated to be the origin of the ancient country of Baekje. Seated before broad plains and Najincheon Stream, the art village also sits in front of Modamsan, the home of numerous Mahan tombs from which a 120-centimeter-long steel sword, crystal jade, and golden earrings, the oldest of its kind unearthed thus far, were once discovered. There have also been many discoveries of settlements from the New Stone Age and Bronze Age as well as dolmens from the Bronze Age so it is believed that a group with a powerful authority had been living in the Modamsan area since ancient times. In the Joseon period, the area became a part of Cheonhyeon-ri and Cheongsudong-ri, Seokhan-myeon. Modamsan is the home of the shrine and grave of Sim Ong, a military vassal from the early Joseon Dynasty who was a second-level meritorious vassal and had the positions of General Jeolchung and later Yeonguijeong, which was given after his death. Also located on the northern riverside of Hangang is Gambawi Rock where Jungbong Jo Heon, a civil vassal from the mid-Joseon period and leader of a righteous army, used to fish to soothe his patriotic sentiments.