Ihwajang House, Seoul

Ihwajang was the residence of Rhee Syng-man, Korea's first president, and today houses items that belonged to him. It consists of a main tiled house and an annexe called Jogakjeong; Jogakjeong is where the first cabinet was formed in 1948, and it is now used as the Rhee Syng-man Memorial Hall. This area was originally the site of the house of the scholar Sin Gwang-han, who lived during the reign of King Jungjong of Joseon (r. 1506–1544); it was also known as Sindae and was a scenic spot visited by many people. It was also the residence of Prince Inpyeong, the third son of King Injo (r. 1623–1649). On a rock by the stream near the back gate of Ihwajang there was once an inscription reading "Hongcheon chwibyeok" (紅泉翠壁, "crimson spring, emerald cliff"), written by the painter and calligrapher Gang Se-hwang to commemorate Sindae, but it is now buried underground.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Jongno-gu, Seoul

Designation

Historic Site · 사적