Choe Sun-u’s House in Seong buk-dong, Seoul, South Korea

Artist/Designer: Vernacular

Project Location: South Korea

Style/Period(s):
Traditional

Primary Material(s):
Wood, Clay, Stone

Function(s):
Residential Structure

Related Website(s):

Significant Date(s):
1930-1939

Additional Information:
This house, presumed to have been built in the 1930s, is a typical example of a traditional Korean house (hanok) in the Gyeonggi Province style. It was the residence of Choe Sun-u (1916–1984), also known by his pen name "Hye-gok," who served as the fourth director of the National Museum of Korea. Choe was born in Kaesong in North Korea and was named Hee-soon. While at Songdo High School, he met his mentor, Ko Yu-seop, the director of the Kaesong Provincial Museum, which led him to pursue a career as an art historian and work in the museum field. He even risked his life during the Korean War to protect the priceless collection at the Kansong Art Museum from theft. Throughout his life, he dedicated himself to discovering, preserving, and promoting Korea’s cultural heritage, emphasizing the "beauty of our own" through exhibitions and writings.
The house is a modern hanok built in the 1930s with a unique 'ㅁ'-shaped layout, where the 'ㄱ'-shaped main building (An-chae) and the 'ㄴ'-shaped outer building (Ba-kkat-chae) face each other, forming a square but with open corners. In front of the sarangbang (study room) where he wrote his famous book, “Leaning Against the Columns of Muryangsujeon,” hangs a plaque with Choe’s handwritten phrase, "Du-mun-jeuk-si-sim-san" (두문즉시심산), meaning "Close the door, and you're deep in the mountains." The interior is furnished with simple wooden furniture and white porcelain, resembling the room of a Joseon-era scholar. The courtyard is planted with hawthorn trees, mountain roses, peonies, water lilies, and chrysanthemums, reflecting Choe’s aesthetic sense, which sought natural, understated beauty and tranquility throughout the house.
As the surrounding area developed, the house faced the threat of demolition. However, in 2002, thanks to public donations and support, the Korea National Trust purchased and restored the property. In 2004, the house was officially opened to the public as "Choe Sun-u's Old House, Citizen's Cultural Heritage No. 1," under the National Trust for Cultural Heritage Fund. Today, the main building serves as an exhibition space, the east wing is used as office space, and the west wing provides meeting rooms and visitor rest areas.
Address: 9, Seongbuk-ro 15-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Tag: Korea, Historic House, Hanok, Seoul

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