Historic House of the Gwangju Yi Clan, Suwon

This is a thatched house comprising a main hall, an outer hall, a shed and a storehouse, all set within a single walled compound. According to the ridge-beam inscription of the main hall, it was built in the 25th year of King Gojong's reign (1888). Low hills surround the house at the back and a small stream flows in front. There are many old hanok in the surrounding area, along with persimmon trees, lending the place an antique charm. The main hall has a plain L-shaped layout, consisting of a kitchen, a wooden-floored hall (daecheong), a main bedroom (anbang) and a side room. The thatched roof is extremely thick. The kitchen occupies the end bay to the east, followed by the main bedroom. The outer hall and the main hall are arranged around the inner courtyard in a quadrangular (ㅁ-shaped) layout, a form commonly seen along the western coast of Gyeonggi-do, and most houses in this village follow the same arrangement. The sarangbang (men's quarters) has an upper and a lower room placed at right angles to the main hall, with only the main gate facing the kitchen. In front of the yard are a shed and a cattle shed. The shed building opposite the outer yard is presumed to have been built in the mid-20th century. The living quarters are enclosed by a wall, but the outer yard is open on all sides, and the entrance into the yard, set slightly south of the shed building, is a notable feature. The storehouse building appears to date from roughly the same time as the main hall. There is a well near the kitchen, and persimmon and maple trees have been planted towards the hill behind the house, adding to its charm. The house has academic value in that the exact date of construction can be established from the ridge-beam inscription of the main hall. At the time of designation the site was named "Yi Byeong-won House, Pajang-dong," but on 29 January 2007 the designated name was changed to "Wolgokdaek House of the Gwangju Yi Clan, Suwon," reflecting the fact that the mother of the current owner, Yi Byeong-won — a woman of the Seongju Do clan — had married into the family from Wolgok-myeon, Ansan-gun, and built this house, which came to be known as "Wolgokdaek." This heritage site is generally open to visitors, but access may be restricted at times due to the personal circumstances of the owner.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Suwon, Gyeonggi

Designation

National Folklore Heritage · 국가민속문화유산