Jo Gil-bang’s House, Dal seong-gun, Daegu, South Korea

Artist/Designer: Vernacular

Project Location: South Korea

Style/Period(s):
Traditional

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

Function(s):
Residential Structure

Related Website(s):

Significant Date(s):
1784, 1925, 1955, 2005

Additional Information:
The Jogilbang Historic House, built in 1784 (the 8th year of King Jeongjo's reign), was the residence of the Ham-an Jo family. It is located in a mountainous village at an elevation of around 450 meters, is the oldest of the six remaining homes in the area. Initally, the family lived near Dongchon Airfield in Daegu, but during the time of the ninth-generation ancestor, Gwang-guk, they experienced family misfortune, leading him to relocate to this remote area.
The main house (anchae) was built around 1784, the sarangchae (men's quarters) was expanded in 1925, and the auxiliary building (araechae) was rebuilt in 1955 after collapsing. The structure is centered around the main building, with the sarangchae (men's quarters) on the left and the araechae (lower quarters) on the right, forming a “open ㄷ-shaped” layout. This ㄇ-shaped traditional Korean house faces west and comprises the anchae, sarangchae, and araechae. The layout of the main house follows a typical southern region style, with the kitchen, main room, central hall, and guest room arranged from left to right.
The anchae, a four-room thatched-roof house, has a layout with the central hall (maru) at its core, the guest room (geonneonbang) on the right, and the main room (anbang) and kitchen on the left. The sarangchae, also a three-room thatched-roof house, is arranged with a storage room (heotgan) on the far left and two ondol-heated rooms next to it. It is designed for easy access from the outside, featuring a wooden porch (toetmaru) at both the front and rear.
The Araechae, a three-room thatched-roof building, has a stable on the far right, followed by one ondol room and a storage room. Although the storage room has a wooden floor, it is said to have originally been used as a mill. The auxiliary building is located behind the sarangchae, and the barn was renovated around 2005.
The house is notable for its small doors and windows, typical of commoner housing at the time, which retain their original form. These are rarely seen in upper-class homes. In contrast, the round pillars at the front of the central hall are unusual for a thatched-roof house. This house is a rare and valuable example of a Joseon Dynasty-era thatched-roof home. Its layout and design reflect the characteristics of southern Korea's commoner residences, making it an essential resource for studying traditional housing development.

Tags: Korea, Historic House, Hanok, Daegu

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