This bridge was located near what is currently Seorin-dong 124 (a corner crossed with Cheonggyero(Street) and the Euljiro-bound Jongno crossroad), and it was called the ‘Daegwangtonggyo’ due to its immense size. This bridge had been known as the largest bridge in Seoul, and became regarded as the place for Dapgyonori (play) on the night of the year’s first full moon among women and men living in castle town. It was alternatively recorded as ‘Bukgwangtonggyo’ in the ‘Sejongsilrok-Jiriji (appended map),’ ‘Daegwangtonggyo’ in the ‘Sinjeung-dongkukyeojiseongram (appended map),’ ‘Gwangtonggyo’ in the ‘Dongseong-jido (map),’ and ‘Daegwanggyo’ in the ‘Suseon-jeondo (complete map).’ All these names referred to the same bridge, and it most widely became known as ‘Daegwanggyo’ or ‘Gwanggyo.’

Stones used in the construction of this bridge were those that had been used in the construction of the former tomb of Kang, Taejo (the 1st King of Joseon), Lee Seonggye’s second empress, before they were transferred from Hwangbabang Jeongdong to Jeongneung-dong of Seongbuk-gu. It was rarely considered ideal to use stones that were more appropriate for an empress’s tomb in bridge construction, but it may be understood better if considered in light of the political circumstances of the time, in the early years of the Joseon Dynasty. When Lee Seonggye had intended to transfer the throne to Bangseok, a progeny of Kang, Lee Bangwon, a progeny of his former wife, rose in revolt to murder Jeong Dojeon and Bangseok. This prompted the Prince’s reaction. After that, while Lee Bangwon exhumed stepmother Kang’s tomb and buried her in another place, the usage of stones for the former tomb was adapted for bridge construction. Bearing this story in mind, we can easily grasp the depth of enmity that Lee Bangwon had for Kang.

In addition, the bridge played a role as a commercial center, as there were a number of stores centering around Gwanggyo, each of which sold eggs, chickens, bamboo used for making Gat (traditional cylindrical Korean hats), Gat, hair accessories for women, ornaments and rings for women, shoes, dyestuffs, Chinese fruits, wooden lacquer wear and wardrobes, vegetables, cotton, miscellaneous goods, (such as horsehair, leather, candles, thread, toilet paper, and books), saddlery, (such as saddles, stirrups, and bridles, pictures, and writings and books), as well as acting as vessel rental shops for parties. To so many people, the necessities of life were all found around Gwangtonggyo.
In Gwangtonggyo, carved stones are placed to represent precise clouds, arabesque, and Sinjangsang (the Buddhist image) with clasped hands and wearing a coronet.