This gatehouse was built during the Goryeo Period (918-1392) as the main entrance to the Gangneung Guesthouse, a government institution used during the Goryeo and Joseon Periods to provide accommodations for central government officials or foreign envoys visiting the area for public duties and as a venue for rites and ceremonies regularly held to honor the ruler in the capital.
When it was first built in 936, this Gangneung Guesthouse, called Imyeonggwan -- “Imyeong” being an old name of the city, which is now called Gangneung -- had a complex of buildings with 83 bays in all. The name of the guesthouse, “Imyeonggwan,” is hung under the front eaves of the gatehouse and is known to have been written by King Gongmin of Goryeo. The guesthouse underwent several major renovations until the early 20th century when it was turned into a public school by the Japanese colonial authority. In 1967, following the closure of the school, the guesthouse housed the local police administration of Gangneung. Currently, only this gate remains. Some of the buildings that constituted the guesthouse were moved to some scenic locations to become Oseongjeong Pavilion in Namsan, Wolhwajeong Pavilion in Geumsan, and Banghaejeong Pavilion in Gyeongpo.
The gatehouse features a wooden structure with three kan (a unit of measurement referring to the distance between two columns) on the front and two kan on the sides, gable roof, decorative brackets placed only on top of the columns that exhibit an attractive style of entasis, and three plank doors made to close the entrances. The building is generally simple and charmingly austere but contains details displaying the fine carving skills of Goryeo woodworkers.