Junggu Myeongdong 11-gil Honorary Road 'Udang Lee Hoe-yeong-gil' Continues to Be Used

[Seoul District News] Jung-gu Extends Use of Honorary Road Name ‘Udang Ihwiyoung-gil’ at Birthplace of Udang Ihwiyoung on Myeongdong 11-gil & Other Honorary Road Names in Jung-gu Include UNESCO-gil and Jeontaeil Peace Market-gil & Continuing the Spirit of ‘Noblesse Oblige’ from Myeongdong to Manchuria 100 Years Ago ... Jongno-gu to Host ‘2022 Samcheong Forest Healing Concert’ on 22nd at Samcheong Park, Praised by The New York Times

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Myeongdong 11-gil in Jung-gu has another name.

It is called ‘Udang Ihwiyoung-gil.’ This place is the site of the house where Ihwiyoung (Lee Hoe-yeong, 李會榮, 1867?1932, born in Myeongdong) lived. Currently, the YWCA building stands here, and in front of the building, there is a plaque and a bust indicating the birthplace of Ihwiyoung.

The Ihwiyoung family, one of the wealthiest families of the time, is a representative household that cannot be omitted when talking about ‘noblesse oblige’ in Korean history. After the 1910 Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty, they sold all their properties around Myeongdong and Namdaemun and moved the entire family of six brothers and about 60 members to Manchuria, where they established the Shinheung Military Academy. For 10 years, they trained over 3,500 independence army leaders here and led the independence movement.

In 2017, marking the 150th anniversary of Udang’s birth, Jung-gu designated this place as ‘Udang Ihwiyoung-gil’ to continuously commemorate and honor Ihwiyoung’s spirit.

An honorary road name is an additional road name given to all or part of a road section with an existing road name address for purposes such as attracting businesses and international exchanges. In Jung-gu, besides Udang Ihwiyoung-gil, UNESCO-gil and Jeon Tae-il Peace Market-gil are also designated as honorary road names.

When using a person’s name as an honorary road name, factors such as the person’s morality, social contribution, and public interest are considered, and it is granted after review by the Address Information Committee. The usage period is five years. The district recently announced that the review for extending the usage period of ‘Udang Ihwiyoung-gil’ has been completed.

Kim Gil-sung, mayor of Jung-gu, stated, “‘Udang Ihwiyoung-gil’ is valid until September 2027. We hope that the spirit of Ihwiyoung, who extended from Myeongdong to Manchuria over 100 years ago, continues here today.”

Samcheong Park

If you are tired of the repetitive daily routine like a hamster wheel, we recommend taking a break from the gray city filled with high-rise buildings and cars to enjoy a quiet time at Samcheong Park.

Jongno-gu (Mayor Jeong Mun-heon) will hold the ‘2022 Samcheong Forest Healing Concert’ at 5:30 p.m. on the 22nd at the multipurpose stadium in Samcheong Park.

Since the concert was suspended due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, this event is held for the first time in three years, prepared as a time for local residents and tourists to enjoy the season’s charm and relax together.

The stage will feature popera singer ‘Arihyun,’ winner of Musical Star K; singer ‘Jo Soryeon,’ who will present wonderful acoustic guitar melodies; fusion gugak (traditional Korean music) group ‘Soyu,’ inviting audiences into the mysterious world of Korean traditional sounds; and singer-songwriter ‘Yang Ha-young,’ who dominated the 1980s.

Samcheong Park, where the concert is held, is a hidden gem in Jongno boasting outstanding natural scenery throughout the year.

In particular, the ‘Samcheong Park Forest Library,’ praised by The New York Times as a healing space designed in a modern city full of the latest technology, is worth noting. This library, housing over 9,000 books, allows visitors to enjoy reading while basking in sunlight pouring through expansive glass windows.

Additionally, a nature-friendly ‘Children’s Forest Experience Center’ and ‘Donation Benches’ containing stories from citizens deeply attached to Jongno have been installed throughout the park.

Mayor Jeong Mun-heon said, “With the opening of the Blue House and Bukaksan Mountain hiking trails, the number of tourists visiting this area is increasing. We have prepared a place where not only residents but also anyone visiting Samcheong-dong for autumn outings can unite through music in nature, so we ask for your great interest.”