Chokseongnu Pavilion

This pavilion was built in 1365 in the late Goryeo Dynasty(the 14th year of king Gongmin) and rebuilt and repaired 8 times. The pavilion is located on the southern cliff of Jinjuseong(or Namjangdae) facing Namgang River. It is made of 5 kan in the front and 4 kan in the side with an octagonal tile(Giwa) roof. This pavilion was also called Jujangdae, Namjangdae or Jangwonry as it was used as the commending post of the used as the commending post of the general, as it is located in the south of the castle or as it was used as an examination place to pick up the local government officials.
There are differents stories handed down about who first built Chokseongnu. They say Kim Jung Gwang of the Goryeo Dynasty built it says King Jungseon built it. says Gwon Chung and Park Sigeol built it. says Kimju took Chokseongnu as a sample when he built Yeongnam-nu pavilion. Though there is no fixed written record, Chokseongnu pavilion is assumed to be built in the late Goryeo Dynasty. When they built Chokseongnu pavilion, they built 4 pavilions in each side of 4 directions, among which Namjangdae on the south became Chokseongnu. The pavilion was destructed in the Japanese invasion. In 1618(the 10th year of GwangHae Gun), a soldier Namiheung rebuilt it. Unfortunately the castle(National Treasure No.276) was burnt the embankment in the Korean war. It was again rebuilt in May, 1960 by Jinju Cultural Heritage Preservation Committee. The new pillars of Chokseongnu were made of limestones.
Chokseongnu is admitted as the first pavilion in Yeongnam and one of the three pavilions in Korea with its artistic value. Standing majestically on the precipice of Namgang River, Chokseongnu still boasts of its beauty as the first pavilion in Yeongnam.