Bukchon Hanok Village(Baek In-je House)


Preserving the modern hanok(korean traditional house) style well, Baek In-je House in Gahoe-dong, Bukchon is a representative hanok of the Japanese occupation period. On 2,460m2 of land, offering a sweeping view of Bukchon Village, the house is composed of sarangchae(men's quarters), anchae(women's quarters), byeoldangchae(detached quarters) and a spacious garden. Embracing modern changes while maintaining the beauty of a hanok, Baek In-je House, along with the Yun Po-sun House, is one of the most representative structures in Bukchon Village in terms of architectural size and historic value.


Built with black pine from the Yalu River area, which was first introduced at the Gyeongseong Exposition in 1907, Baek In-je House has many attributes to distinguish it from typical mansions of the same period. First of all, unlike a traditional hanok where anchae(women's quarters) and sarangchae(men's quarters) are distinctly separated, this house has anchae and sarangchae connected to each other with a hallway. Thus, without having to walk out of the door, residents can move easily between the women's quarters and men's quarters. Japanese-style hallways, some rooms with tatami mats, the use of red bricks and glass windows are among the features reflecting conditions at the time of construction. Also, part of the anchae was built in two-story structure, which was unprecedented in a hanok of the Joseon period.

Built in 1913 by Han Sang-ryong, an executive at Hanseong Bank, this house changed hands several times, passing to Hanseong Bank, Choi Seon-ik and ultimately to Dr. Baek In-je in 1944. When it was under the ownership of Hanseong Bank, Cheondogyo("Religion of the Heavenly Way") rented it to use as the meeting place and accommodation for members coming from other parts of the country.
Choi Seon-ik is a figure who left an impressive mark on the history of Korean nationalist journalism.
As a wealthy publisher and journalist from Gaeseong, Choi took over Joseon JungAng Ilbo newspaper at the age of 27 in 1932 and invited Yeo Wun-hyeong, a prominent nationalist activist, to assume the post of president. After 1944, Dr. Baek In-je, the most renowned surgeon of his time, and his family kept ownership of the house. Recognized for its architectural and historical values, this house was designated in 1977 as Seoul Folklore Cultural Property No.22

Source : Baek In-je House Museum pamphlet






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