Former Wonju Branch of the Colonial Industrial Bank of Korea (Chosen Shiksan Bank)

The former Wonju branch of the Colonial Industrial Bank of Korea (Chosen Shiksan Bank) was the first bank established in the Wonju area, serving as a branch of the bank that played a significant role in Japan's economic exploitation during the Japanese colonial period.

The Colonial Industrial Bank of Korea succeeded the rights and obligations of six agricultural and industrial banks established in various regions from June 1906. It was founded by the Japanese Government-General of Korea as a large development bank that relied on direct Japanese investment and management to maximize agricultural production in Korea. By 1943, it continued to operate as the largest policy financial institution under the Japanese Government-General, employing 498 staff members, including 150 Korean employees. However, with the liberation on August 15, 1945, capital imports from Japan ceased, and due to severe inflation, the disposal of private bonds became impossible. The bank could not properly perform its development banking functions, handling only a portion of U.S. military government funds, and transformed into a commercial bank. In 1954, under the Korea Development Bank Act, it was reestablished as the Korea Development Bank, a development bank.