Lee Hoe-yeong Memorial Hall Moves from Namsan Yejang Area to Sajik-dong... 'Citizen's Friend House' Renovated

Missionaries' Western-style House 'Mukeunjip' Relocation
Reconstructing 'Tradition-Modernity' in New Space on 17th Next Month

The Lee Hoe-young Memorial Hall, which honors Lee Hoe-young and his comrades who risked their lives and property for the independence movement, is reopening at the old missionary house 'Mukeun Jip' in Sajik-dong, Jongno-gu. This is a measure to prepare a lower station for the 'Namsan Gondola' project promoted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

According to Seoul City on the 23rd, the Lee Hoe-young Memorial Hall will close operations on this day and relocate to Mukeun Jip. The old missionary house to which the memorial hall is moving is a Western-style house built on the hill of Sajik-dong in the early 20th century, where missionaries dispatched by the United Methodist Church of America lived in Joseon. Mukeun Jip in Sajik-dong (basement to 2nd floor, approximately 311㎡), which possesses the unique aesthetics and value of modern architecture, was designated as an excellent architectural asset by Seoul City in 2019.

Exterior view of an old house in Sajik-dong.
[Photo by Seoul City]

Prior to the relocation, on the 10th, a talk concert titled "Friends Are Coming - Stories of Independence Fighters" was held to commemorate the 3rd anniversary of the Lee Hoe-young Memorial Hall and the 113th anniversary of the founding of the Shinheung Military Academy. The event was hosted by Seo Hae-sung, director of the Lee Hoe-young Memorial Hall, and featured storytellers including Olga Kim, great-granddaughter of General Kim Kyung-cheon, known as 'General Kim on a White Horse' and instructor at Shinheung Military Academy; Jeong Cheol-seung, grandson of Yoon Ki-seop, principal of Shinheung Military Academy; and Lee Jong-geol, grandson of Lee Hoe-young and director of the memorial hall. They shared stories about the daily lives of independence activists and their families.

Seo Hae-sung, who planned the relocation and the 3rd anniversary event, explained, "The Lee Hoe-young Memorial Hall, which is establishing a new home at Mukeun Jip in Sajik-dong, will be a 'Friend House' where tradition and modernity, independence movement and the present meet and are reconfigured to engage citizens in a new form." The memorial hall plans to hold a special exhibition once renovations are complete. Visits to the new memorial hall will be possible from July 17, and detailed information can be found on the Lee Hoe-young Memorial Hall website.

Lee Jong-geol, director of the Lee Hoe-young Memorial Hall, said, "In the yard of the new memorial hall, a zelkova tree over 200 years old and another over 100 years old stand side by side, symbolizing a return to the 'Ssanghoijeong' where Lee Hoe-young decided to fight for the liberation of the homeland." He added, "We will prepare programs that citizens can enjoy and participate in at this new space."

Kim Seung-won, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Balanced Development Headquarters, also stated, "The reopening of Mukeun Jip in Sajik-dong as a 'Citizen Friend House' honors the life of Lee Hoe-young, who lived a life in line with the names of many independence activists." He added, "We hope citizens' interest and visits will continue to add value to this beautiful house."