S2024-G030

Houses of Gwangju: Living Heritage of Time and Memory

Narrative

Across Gwangju, traditional Korean houses stand as living testaments to the city’s layered history, cultural transformation, and enduring human stories. From the noble residences of influential families to the modest homes that preserved records of everyday life, these houses reflect how architecture intertwined with the rhythms of their time.

Some, like Kim Yong-hak’s House and Yi Jang-u’s House, embody the encounter between Korean tradition and Western influence in the early twentieth century. Others, such as the Noble House of the Choe Family in Sa-dong and Choe Seung-hyo’s House, reveal the evolution of modern architecture rooted in heritage, family, and art. Go Won-hui’s House carries the legacy of loyalty and patriotism from the turbulent years of the Japanese invasions, while Kim Bong-ho’s House quietly preserves decades of rural life through detailed personal diaries.

Together, these homes form an architectural and human map of Gwangju—one that tells stories of devotion, adaptation, and resilience. Through them, we glimpse not only the changing forms of Korean domestic architecture but also the values and memories that have shaped the city’s identity across centuries.

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