The Value of Hometown Seodang Buildings Highlighted by Jangheung Former Residents

Academic Conference Seeks Ways to Utilize Gwansujae and Yeogokjae
Exploring the Educational and Cultural Value of Jangheung's Historic Seodang

An event highlighting two seodang (traditional village schools) in Jangheung, South Jeolla Province, which were used as educational institutions until the modern era, will be held. The Hanok Culture Foundation announced on the 19th that it will host an academic conference titled "Gwansujae·Yeogokjae?The Architectural Value and Utilization of Seodang as Educational and Cultural Heritage" at 2 p.m. on the 23rd at the Jangheung County Community Center.

Jangheung Gwansujae

This event will examine the characteristics and roles of the two seodang remaining in Geumgok-ri Village, and is especially meaningful as it was planned by people originally from the village. The organizers, "Jangheung-gun Yongsan-myeon Geumgok-ri Residents and Former Residents," explained, "Former residents who once settled here and later moved away organized this academic conference to research and review the region's cultural heritage."

Gwansujae is a seodang of the Yeonggwang Kim clan, built in 1602, while Yeogokjae is a seodang of the Incheon Lee clan, established in 1864. Both were originally constructed as thatched-roof houses but were later rebuilt as tiled-roof buildings in the late Joseon Dynasty. A notable feature of both structures is the placement of a central room with wooden floors (maru) on the sides.

Jangheung Yeogokjae

Kim Wangjik, a professor at Myongji University and an expert in traditional architecture, will participate in the event to compare the two buildings with previously known hanok architecture, explaining the roof styles and other distinctive features.