韓國史의 展開過程에서의 原州의 位相

Wonju’s place in the development of Korean history

The year 2008 marks the 1331st year since the establishment of Buk-Won-Kyung (北原京). Around the mid 18th century, Yi Jungwhan described Wonju as the base for the distribution of goods. He stated, ‘There are fields in between the mountain valleys that make the place light and graceful, not closed up and threatening. Situated between Gyeonggi-do and Yeungnam, the fish, salts, ginseng and lumbar for the palace passing through developed the formation of a town.’ Wonju has geographic significance in being accessible from all directions, expressed as having “open ranges and large fields.” It also has a advantageous routes to Seoul, with the channel of the Namhan river and the development of the roads leading to Yeoju and Yangpyung. From old, Wonju has always been close to Seoul, and with mount Chiak and other mountains in the back, Wonju’s clan(氏姓) could maintain their indigenous life and go to Seoul to take up positions as officials. Thus, central culture of Seoul flowed into Wonju before any other region in Gangwondo. Because of its geographical proximity, Wonju is considered as having been unable to form or reveal its own identity. Its location as the center of the peninsula made Wonju a place ‘not to settle down in’ but to ‘pass by or stay a short while’. This fact is often pointed out in such chronicle records as the Bi-byun-sa-dung-rok(備邊司남錄). However, because of this, Wonju was able to have the merit of embracing and opening the way for diverse cultural phenomena. As Wonju was always open, it has a long history of many people coming and going. This has given the Wonju people wisdom in accepting without discrimination of background or culture, and in embracing and living harmoniously. Even today, people from elsewhere who have moved to Wonju say that ‘of all places, Wonju is the least discriminating and most open’. This feature wasn’t suddenly born but grown from old. Wonju, where the Gangwon-Gamyoung is established, has for the past 500 years been the political, economic, cultural, and military center of Gangwon-do. Today, not only does it have a large population but it is leading Gangwon-do in every way.