Since the Japanese pirates’ aggressions to the Geoje region were quite frequent during the early Joseon period, seven military bases were established, in Okpo, Jora, Gabae and Jangmok in order to defend this area. Then in 1470, as Geoje county was re-designated as a prefecture, this building was erected at Gohyeonseong in order to consolidate general administration and military affairs. At the time of its construction, this pavilion became the central government office responsible for all administrative and military affairs of this region.

When the Joseon naval headquarters was established on Hansando in 1593, this pavilion was converted into a reception hall.

Giseonggwan, the reception hall of Geoje county. The structure of this grand hall with its nine kan (measurement) to the front, and three to the sides, has a wooden paneled floor open on all four sides, characteristic of large pavilions of the time. In comparison to the scale of other pavilions in Gyeongsangnamdo, it stands as one of four great pavilions of this region, along with Sebyeonggwan of Tongyeong, Chokseoknu of Jinju, and Yeongnamnu of Miryang.

The entasis (a slight convexity in the shaft of a column that compensates for the illusion of concavity that viewers experience when the sides are perfectly straight) pillars of this building are made of the bracket-on-column system. The three sections of the roof have a central section which is slightly elevated so that from the side it forms a gable and two lower end sections of the roof were built in the hipped and gabled configuration.

This structure likely enshrined a tablet representing the king, in the center of the hall. This attempt to represent royal power can be seen in the rich ornamentation in the profusely bracketed style, despite the bracket-on-column system.

Giseonggwan was designated as the tangible cultural property of Gyeongsangnamdo in 1974. The building was completely disassembled and restored in 1976. It was designated as the nationally-designated cultural property (Historic Relics) of "Government Offices of Geoje-myeon", together with near by local government office, Jilcheong.

Jilcheong, library and office of low-level officials - Jilcheong of Government Offices of Geoje-myeon. Along with Geoje Giseonggwan, Jilcheong also was part of the jurisdiction of the Geoje county government. Jilcheong was used as the library and the office of low-level officials and was also called Jakcheong or Yeoncheong.

The government offices of Geoje county were originally established in 1423 at the Gohyeon fortress. However, when the fortress fell during the Japanese occupation (1592-1598), these buildings were also destroyed by fire and then relocated in 1664 at the current location.

After these government offices were eliminated by Japan's annexation of Korea, this building began to be used as Geoje registry offices for Busan Regional Courts from 1926 onward. In 1982, when the registry offices were moved to Gohyeon, all damage was repaired and the building restored to its original appearance.

Two living quarters are located on both sides of the building while the central area was a large main hall used for administrative affairs. Though this building is simple without great adornment or fine technique, thick pillars with entasis (a slight convexity in the shaft of a column that compensates for the illusion of concavity that viewers experience when the sides are perfectly straight) and the broad contours of the materials used on the interior and exterior of the building give it a plain yet austere atmosphere. This building, which provides a rare and full picture of the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) government architecture, is an important resource for research of mid-Joseon architecture along with Giseonggwan.

Giseonggwan of Geoje-myeon Government Office Historic site #484.