Birthplace of Scholar Yi Byeong-gi

About this place

This is the house where Yi Byeong-gi (pen name Garam), a Korean-language scholar and sijo poet, was born and lived. The layout follows that of a late-Joseon scholar's household, with an inner living quarters (anchae), a guest hall (sarangchae), a storehouse, an annex building (gopangchae), and a pavilion remaining. The modest anchae and sarangchae, and the charming pavilion and pond, reflect the character of a scholar's household. The name of the sarangchae, 'Suujae' (守愚齋 — 'the study of one who guards wisdom by appearing foolish'), conveys the spirit of Yi Byeong-gi, who lived his whole life as a principled scholar devoted to love of his country and people. Yi Byeong-gi recognized the value of the Korean language and from the 1930s organized the Chosun Language Research Society; in 1930 he became a member of the committee to establish the 'Unified System of Korean Orthography' and of the committee to deliberate on standard Korean vocabulary. In 1942 he was taken to Hamgyeong Province's Heungwon Police Station in connection with the Korean Language Society Incident and spent a year in prison before returning to his hometown. After liberation, he taught Korean literature at Jeonbuk University, Seoul National University, and Jungang University.