Provisional Capital Memorial Hall
임시수도기념관
The two-storey house used as the presidential residence during the 1,023 days Busan was the provisional capital in the Korean War. Where the Modern and Contemporary History Museum takes the whole span, this takes one period narrowly — the war and the refuge. Closed Mondays.
Language
Place information
- Korean name
- 임시수도기념관
- Address
- 45 Imsisudo-ginyeom-ro, Seo-gu, Busan
- Opening hours
- 09:00–18:00
- Closed
- Jan 1 · Every Mon (closed the following day instead if it falls on a public holiday)
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Admission
- Free
Prices
| Admission | Free |
|---|
History
The building first served as the official residence of the Governor of Gyeongsangnam-do and then as the presidential residence during the provisional-capital period. It served again as the governor's residence before opening as the Provisional Capital Memorial Hall. The presidential residence was restored and an exhibition hall opened; the building was designated a Busan Metropolitan City Monument, and the provisional-capital presidential residence was designated a Historic Site.
10 August 1926
Completion of the building
1926–1949
Use as the governor's residence
18 August 1950–15 August 1953
Use as the presidential residence
1953–1983
Renewed use as the governor's residence
25 June 1984
Opening of the memorial hall
10 April 2000–5 November 2001
Restoration of the presidential residence
6 May 2002
Designation as Busan Monument No. 53
19 September 2012
Opening of the exhibition hall
6 November 2018
Presidential residence designated Historic Site No. 546
Provisional Capital Memorial Hall (Busan Metropolitan City) — history ·
What to see
Reception room
During the Korean War, final political decisions and foreign diplomatic work took place here. The vice-president, ministers, generals and other senior officials were appointed here, and reports on state affairs were received.
Study
This small room beside the reception room held books and reference materials for work. During the war, President Syngman Rhee rested and ate here and spent most of his time in the room.
Bedroom
President Syngman Rhee and Francesca Donner Rhee slept in this room. It contains their hanbok and household furniture, including a mother-of-pearl cabinet, a bandaji chest and boxes.
Living room
The president's family and people working at the residence gathered here. Miniatures depict political activity during the period of refuge, as well as refugees' lives, education and markets.
Testimony room
Formerly a guardroom, this room presents the testimony of Lee Jeong-suk, who served as a commando during the Korean War.
Reception room selected
Nearby
Stories about this place
- Busan in 2 or 3 Days: Old City, Haeundae to Gwangalli, Beomeosa
A first-timer's Busan route. Day 1 covers the western old city — the Provisional Capital Memorial Hall, Nampo-dong and Huinnyeoul Culture Village; day 2 the eastern coast from Haeundae along Blue Line Park to Songjeong and Gwangalli; day 3 runs from Beomeosa down to the UN Memorial Cemetery and Oryukdo. Includes how to choose between two and three days, Monday closures, opening hours and bad-weather swaps.
- Five Historic Places in Busan: Beomeosa to Huinnyeoul Village
Five places to see Busan's history, set out in the order the centuries came, from Beomeosa, founded under Silla, to the cliff lanes on Yeongdo where Korean War refugees settled. All five are free. Includes opening hours, where to go instead when the two museums close on Mondays and 1 January, and how to group them into days.
Nearby Food
Travel Guides
Related articles
Where these facts come from
- Visit Busan — Provisional Capital Memorial Hall ·
- OpenStreetMap — location of Provisional Capital Memorial Hall (coordinate confirmed by road-address match on Naver Place) ·
- Provisional Capital Memorial Hall (Busan Metropolitan City) — history ·
- Provisional Capital Memorial Hall (Busan Metropolitan City) — presidential residence, ground floor ·