Gongsindang

Gongsindang, or the Hall of Meritorious Subjects, situated across from the Main Shrine Hall, enshrines the spirit tablets of government officials who achieved distinction serving their king and the dynasty. The original size of the shrine building for the meritorious subjects is documented differently in various historical texts. Over time, the building continued to undergo expansion, culminating in its present form as a sixteen-bay structure housing spirit tablets of eighty-three meritorious subjects of the Joseon era. The requirements for designation as a meritorious subject varied depending on the political circumstances of the period. However, they predominantly related to contributions in restoring royal authority, uncovering treason, or suppressing rebellion. The fate of the meritorious subjects, whose spirit tablets are housed in this shrine hall, remained closely linked to the ruler they served, even after their passing. While their spirit tablets remained in the Gongsindang akin to those of their kings in the Main Shrine Hall, upon the removal of their kings from the Main Shrine Hall, the tablets of these subjects had to depart the shrine and were sent to their descendants.