E2024-G147

Traditional Homes with Foreign Influences: Yi Jang-u’s House

Narrative

Yi Jang-u’s House is a well-preserved example of an upper-class house of the early 20th century located in Yangnim History and Culture Village. Construction of the house began in 1899 with the women’s quarters, built by Jeong Byeong-ho, the son of the wealthy landowner Jeong Nak-gyo. Jeong Byeong-ho then built the gate quarters in 1935. In 1959, when the house was purchased by Yi Jang-u (1919-2002), a men’s quarters, a servants’ quarters, and a storehouse were added. Yi Jang-u was a wealthy man and philanthropist from Gwangju who founded several educational institutions like Donggang Academy and greatly contributed to the development of the region.

The women’s quarters consists of, from left to right, a narrow wooden veranda, a small underfloor-heated room, a wooden-floored hall, a large underfloor-heated room, a kitchen, and another small underfloor-heated room. On the front right of the building is an extension that creates an L-shaped layout, which is uncommon among women’s quarters in Korea’s southern region. This extension serves as an additional space for the family to enjoy. The storehouse was later burned down and was rebuilt in 2009. The garden in front of the women’s quarters was originally made in a Japanese style, due to the influence of the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945), but was changed to a Korean-style garden when the house was used as an exhibition venue during the Gwangju Biennale in 2009.

This house shows how, although the traditional Korean house was used in the early 20th century, but featured changes in the layout for convenience and foreign influences. Thus, the changing appearance of the traditional house can be seen. The women’s quarters was designated as a Gwangju Folk Cultural Heritage for its historical and architectural significance.

Story Map

• Houses of Gwangju: Living Heritage of Time and Memory
  • Choe Seung-hyo’s House: A Legacy of Culture and Art
  • Go Won-hui’s House: A Legacy of Loyalty and Integrity
  • Kim Bong-ho’s House: A Home Preserving the Everyday History of Gwangju
  • The Noble House of the Choe Family in Sa-dong: A Space Reflecting Modern Gwangju’s Architecture and Life
  • Traditional Homes with Foreign Influences: Yi Jang-u’s House
  • Traditional Homes with Foreign Influences: Kim Yong-hak’s House