Historic House of the Jinyang Ha Clan, Changnyeong-gun, South Korea

Artist/Designer: Vernacular

Project Location: South Korea

Style/Period(s):
Traditional

Primary Material(s):
Wood, Clay, Stone, Plants

Function(s):
Residential Structure

Related Website(s):

Significant Date(s):
1425, 1760, 1898, 2008

Additional Information:
This traditional Korean house in Changnyeong, initially built in the early Joseon Dynasty, comprises the main house (anchae), the men's quarters (sarangchae), and a gatehouse. According to family records, the current owner, Ha Gyeong-mok's 18th ancestor, built the anchae in 1425, during the 7th year of King Sejong's reign. However, during a restoration, an inscription dating to the 36th year of King Yeongjo's reign (1760, equivalent to) was found, suggesting that the house was rebuilt or extensively repaired. The sarangchae was rebuilt in 1898 and renovated again in 2008.
The anchae has a typical single-story "一"-shaped structure with four front-facing rooms and one side room, a standard layout in the southern regions of Korea. The rooms are arranged from left to right: a small room, the main hall (daecheong), the main room (anbang), and the kitchen, uniquely positioned on the east instead of the more typical west side in traditional houses. Behind the kitchen, there is a small storage room with a half-door, adding functional utility to the layout.
One of the house's most distinctive features is its deep eaves, which extend nearly as far as the height of the columns. This design is adapted to the climate of southern Korea, where abundant sunlight can heat interiors in summer; the extended eaves help reduce direct sunlight entering the house. The roof is made of eoksae, a type of reed, rather than the usual straw thatching. This eoksae thatch, with its steeper pitch, allows rainwater to flow down easily along the reed stems, preventing leaks and making the roof more durable than conventional thatched roofs. The steeper pitch also gives the roof a distinctive, elevated appearance.
This house is a classic example of Yeongnam-style architecture, typical in inland areas affected by a continental climate. Yeongnam-style houses feature an open front without walls or doors in front of the wooden floor (maru), creating a spacious and well-ventilated area. By contrast, Southeast Coastal-style homes, often found near coastal regions, have walls and doors in front of the maru to shield against typhoon winds and rain. The wooden floor planks in the maru are flattened on the top but retain their natural form underneath, preserving traditional craftsmanship. The roof and structural beams are assembled without nails, using interlocking joints with holes drilled directly into the wood. The ceiling above the daecheong is left bare without a clay undercoat, creating a lighter structure reflecting early Joseon architecture's simplicity and unadorned aesthetic.
The front yard has a slight vegetable garden and a platform for storing jangdok (fermented food pots) near the kitchen. A flower staircase leads from behind the main house to a small grove of old trees, creating a peaceful and natural environment. The house, occupied by the Ha family for generations, is an invaluable resource for studying traditional Korean residential architecture, especially for its insights into early Joseon-era construction techniques and the cultural adaptation to regional climates.
Address: 63, Sijang 1-gil, Changnyeong-eup, Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea

Tags: Korea, Historic House, Hanok, Changnyeong, South Korea

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