Centuries-old house of Confucian scholars, freedom fighters to be listed as folklore heritage
A 17th-century house in Korea home to Confucian scholars and independence fighters will be named a National Folklore Cultural Heritage.
According to the Korea Heritage Service, Samsan House of the Jeonju Ryu clan in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, is significant in that it has kept a shrine for prominent Confucian scholars like Ryu Jeong-won, nicknamed Samsan. He taught Crown Prince Sado, the second son of King Yeongjo of Joseon (1724-1776).
The house also was a birthplace of at least 10 freedom activists who fought against Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule, the agency said.
The house, believed to have been built in 1693, has architectural value too, the agency added, saying the five structures on the compound 'visibly demonstrate a clear boundary of inside and outside,' the hallmark of the noble class residence in the late Joseon period.
The house will be officially designated after the 30-day public review period, provided no major objections are filed with the Korea Heritage Service.
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Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
Centuries-old house of Confucian scholars, freedom fighters to be listed as folklore heritage
A 17th-century house in Korea home to Confucian scholars and independence fighters will be named a National Folklore Cultural Heritage. According to the Korea Heritage Service, Samsan House of the Jeonju Ryu clan in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, is significant in that it has kept a shrine for prominent Confucian scholars like Ryu Jeong-won, nicknamed Samsan. He taught Crown Prince Sado, the second son of King Yeongjo of Joseon (1724-1776). The house also was a birthplace of at least 10 freedom activists who fought against Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule, the agency said. The house, believed to have been built in 1693, has architectural value too, the agency added, saying the five structures on the compound 'visibly demonstrate a clear boundary of inside and outside,' the hallmark of the noble class residence in the late Joseon period. The house will be officially designated after the 30-day public review period, provided no major objections are filed with the Korea Heritage Service.
Korea Herald
17-05-2025
- Korea Herald
A day of reflection in city of enlightenment
UNESCO-listed Dosanseowon, village of art stand out in Andong ANDONG, North Gyeongsang Province — Andong was a city of scholars. The southeastern city was home to those studying to further Neo-Confucianism, a school of Chinese thought that had undergirded Korea during its Joseon era from 1392-1910. Dosanseowon, a private Confucian school in the city, testifies to how committed Joseon was to see the philosophy permeate everyday life. The school was established as a tribute to Yi Hwang, a prominent Confucian thinker whose contribution to expanding the thought led Joseon to launch the institution in 1576, six years after his death. The academy complex, which grew out of a small hall Yi built in 1561 to teach Confucianism, comprises separate halls for reading, dining and sleeping. A shrine was added later by his students to pay respects to Yi. 'The entire ground is secluded and serene,' said Kim Myeong-ja, a 66-year-old Seoul resident who stopped by the Confucian academy on her tour of the two Gyeongsang provinces. Trees that surround the premise, punctuated by ponds and flowers, make for a natural setting where thinkers could do what they did best, Kim observed. Pyo Hyun-soo, born and raised in Andong, said he frequents the complex because 'each trip conjures up old memories.' 'I had a lot of school field trips that included stops here,' said Pyo, a retailer in his 40s who said he planned to take his 8-year-old with him on the next visit once the child becomes 'ready to soak in' the view and ambience. 'This is the perk of living close to a UNESCO site, isn't it?' Pyo said of the world body's 2019 decision to name Dosanseowon a World Heritage Site, a designation given to a group of eight Confucian academies around the country. Yekki Village A 10-minute drive away from Dosanseowon is Yekki Village, settled by people whose homes were flooded when the nearby Andong Dam began operations in 1976. Yekki, literally meaning 'artistic talent,' is one of many travel destinations in the Gyeongsang provinces seeing an increasing number of visitors, thanks to cultural spaces dotting the village including galleries, workshops, book cafes and walkways with a view. One of the must-see spots is Seonseongsusang-gil, a 1.2-kilometer floating bridge over Lake Andong that connects to Andong Hoban Nature Forest, a bucolic retreat in verdant woodlands. The bridge is submersible depending on water levels and swings from side to side. That's some unexpected thrill, said Min Hyun-jung, 31, who traveled from Incheon alone for a 'contemplative stroll down the deck' while taking in panoramic views of the lake. 'Other than the fact the bridge is actually a bit narrower than what I saw on Instagram, it's worth a trip. The sweeping views have done it for me,' Min said of her satisfaction with the trip that took almost three hours by car, while taking selfies. Confucian museum For others like Song Soo-jin, a native Andong with two elementary students, a village tour is only complete with a stop at the Korean Studies Institute, a think tank that runs the Confucian Culture Museum, less than a 10-minute walk away from the village. 'It's not just about the philosophy,' Song said of the museum's latest exhibition 'Eohwadongdong.' Running through July, the special exhibition explores how children are viewed and understood with artifacts spanning from 18th century Joseon to today. Books and documents on display are mostly written in Chinese characters, which means children visiting can barely decipher what is shown. But that's all the more reason kids have to see such exhibitions, under parental guidance, according to Song. 'Kids have to burn off energy to get the movement their bodies physically and desperately need,' Song said. 'After that, they need to do the same for their mental faculties. What's better than to keep them asking questions?'
Korea Herald
08-05-2025
- Korea Herald
Restoring cultural heritage destroyed by wildfires to cost 48.8b won
State, city and provincial government to support restoration of 36 government-designated treasures, cultural heritage sites The restoration of government-designated cultural heritage sites damaged by the wildfires that ravaged across southeastern South Korea in March is expected to cost about 48.8 billion won ($34.9 million), the Korea Heritage Service said Thursday. A joint investigation conducted by the agency and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety confirmed 36 instances of damage to cultural assets. Among these, 13 items and structures were state-designated national treasures, heritage sites or state-recognized cultural properties. The remaining cases involved heritage designated by municipal and provincial governments. This included near-complete destruction of the 7th-century Buddhist temple Gounsa in Uiseong-gun, the epicenter of the Uiseong-Andong fires. which was by far the biggest wildfire in South Korea's recorded history. Nine of the temple's 30 buildings were destroyed, along with national treasures Gaun-ru, a pavillion, and Yeonsu-jeon, a hall, while another treasure Stone Seated Buddha statue sustained damage. The fires also destroyed several centuries-old buildings, such as the Sanam House in Cheongsong-gun, North Gyeongsang Province, thought to have been built in late 18th century. The state heritage agency said the restoration will be conducted in phases, beginning with urgent tasks such as securing structural components of the destroyed buildings, preserving partially damaged structures, and mapping out detailed restoration plans within this year. The prioritization of work will be based on the severity of the damage inflicted, and the extent to which the value of each item or structure has been compromised. The budgets of both the central and regional governments will be used for the restoration, along with state lottery funds and donations. This includes 1 billion won donated by K-pop agency Hybe to the KHS-affiliated agency last month. "Administrative and financial supports will be made so that the state heritage damaged by the fire can be restored to its original value," KHS chief Choi Eung-chon said. The string of wildfires tore across the Gyeongsang provinces in the span of two weeks since mid-March, burning over 100,000 hectares of land while killing 33 and forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands living in the area. They inflicted more casualties and larger property damage than any other wildfire in the country's history.
