The temple was from the Japanese colonial period and was originally located to the right of Kaebong tunnel that passes under Wolmyong Park. The bell within a structure was located at the base of the park in a large open area. There are photos of the temple and bell during the US Occupation Period after WWII. After the outbreak of the Korean War, North Korean refugees were dumped in Kunsan to survive on a ration of coal as best they could. The hillside on both side of the tunnel became crammed with mudwattle houses and makeshift shanties of the North Koreans. After the war, the temple was relocated to its present location and the site was used to build an elementary school for the North Koreans. (Someone mentioned this school in these comments.) The school was closed in the 1990s when the population dwindled due to the population center relocating to the Naundong area of the city.

The photos of the Japanese section sure brings back memories. There used to be some small business buildings in the area that had art deco type facades dating to the 1930s, but were covered over during that hate-Japan period a few years back. The area was the first area reclaimed by the Fuji Company from the tidal flats. That’s why the streets of the Japanese area of the old city was laid out on a grid, but on the other side of Main Road (Taehakyo-ro) the roads are old-style zig-zag Korean style streets.

During the hate-Japan period a few years back, a pagoda dating back to the Japanese colonial period that was on top of hill overlooking the harbor was torn down. However, other examples of Japanese architecture in the harbor area remains — the most important being the customs house listed as a provincial treasure. Believe it or not, there’s a lot of American history in that same area as Occupation troops after WWII and then troops during the Korean War were housed in some of these same Japanese buildings — simply because they were the best constructed buildings in the area.

Again thanks for posting those pics.