Jang Hyeon-sik Historic House

About this place

Jang Hyeon-sik was born in Gimje, North Jeolla Province, as the son of a large landowner (manseokkun), and supported the anti-Japanese independence movement financially. He was imprisoned in 1942 as a result of the Korean Language Society Incident (Joseon Language Society Case). After liberation, he served as the 2nd Governor of North Jeolla Province (August 17 – December 14, 1949). The Jang Hyeon-sik House was once a wealthy man's residence — like the Park family estate in Namwon — where travelers could rest comfortably in the days before inns or hotels existed. It is said that the household slaughtered a cow almost every three days to entertain passing guests, and among travelers the saying went: 'When your travel money runs out, head to the Jang family house in Seodo.' The house, built in the traditional style with four structures including the main hall (anchae) and guest quarters (sarangchae), is a meaningful architectural work that showcases changes in modern hanok design. Its woodworking is of an exceptionally refined level, earning it very high architectural value as a traditional hanok.