A total of 417 suspected artifacts were recovered during the suspension

The site of Gangwon Province's new headquarters in Goeun-ri, Chuncheon. Red dots mark locations where artifacts were reported found. [Provided by Jungdo Bureau]
The site of Gangwon Province's new headquarters in Goeun-ri, Chuncheon. Red dots mark locations where artifacts were reported found. [Provided by Jungdo Bureau]

Construction on Gangwon Province's new headquarters — a project that has drawn controversy since it was launched under the previous provincial administration — resumed Tuesday after a 42-day halt ordered following the discovery of suspected artifacts.

Gangwon Province said it will restart infrastructure work at the new headquarters site in Goeun-ri, Dongnaemyeon, Chuncheon, after the Cultural Heritage Administration and Chuncheon city notified the province Tuesday that the construction suspension had been lifted.

Work was halted immediately after a report of suspected artifact discoveries at the site was filed Sept. 2, in line with an on-site inspection recommendation from Chuncheon city. Provincial authorities then conducted a recovery investigation with a specialized buried-heritage research institution.

The investigation recovered 417 suspected artifacts, including pottery shards, and the findings were reported to the relevant authorities.

"We will resume infrastructure construction following the lifting of the suspension order and make every effort to ensure the project proceeds without disruption," a provincial official said. "If any remains or artifacts are discovered after construction resumes, we will immediately halt work and report them."


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