Sampanseo House

About this place

Sampanseo House, located in Gaheung-dong, Yeongju City, Gyeongsangbuk-do, was so named because three ministers (panseo) lived there in the late Goryeo and early Joseon periods. The owners of this house were Jeong Un-gyeong, who served as Minister of Justice (Hyeongbusangseo) during the reign of King Gongmin of Goryeo, his son-in-law Hwang Yu-jeong, Minister of Works (Gongjopanseo), and Hwang Yu-jeong's grandson through the female line, Kim Dam, Minister of Personnel (Ijopanseo). Jeong Un-gyeong was the father of Jeong Do-jeon, and Sampanseo House is also said to be the birthplace of Jeong Do-jeon. Among the three ministers, Kim Dam was a figure regarded as the greatest astronomer of Joseon; after passing the state examination at the age of 20, he observed the heavens for 16 years at the Ganuidae, equivalent to a national observatory, and compiled numerous astronomical and calendrical works, including the Chiljeongsan Inner and Outer Volumes. The Chiljeongsan is highly esteemed as Korea's first autonomous calendrical system, produced based on Hanyang rather than Beijing in China. His descendants lived in this house for generations. Besides Jeong Do-jeon, many scholars and eminent officials were produced, such as Hwang Jeon, an Inspector (Jipyeong) of the Office of the Inspector General, and Kim Jung, a Junior Sixth Councilor (Gyori) of the Hall of Worthies, and all of them were descendants of the three ministers. This house was originally located south of Guseong Park (present-day 431 in Yeongju City), but it tilted due to a great flood in 1961 and was eventually demolished, and in 2008 it was restored to its present form here in Guhak Park, in this spot with a fine view overlooking the Seocheon Stream. Behind Sampanseo House is the Jemillu, the first local public medical institution of the Joseon period, and an 11-minute drive away is the Yeongju Hyanggyo, which was in charge of the education and edification of local residents during the Goryeo period.