Suncheon City to Continue Thatched Roof Repair at Nakan Eupseong Until December

Passing Down Traditional Living
Offering Attractions and Hands-On Experiences for Tourists

Nakaneupseong Preservation Society working on the "Choga Ieongi Gi" project. Provided by Suncheon City

Suncheon City in South Jeolla Province announced on September 4 that it has begun the thatched roof repair project at Nakan Eupseong in early September, and that the work will continue until December.

This project involves residents of Nakan Eupseong who possess traditional skills, and it is carried out annually to coincide with the rice harvest season. The roofing materials used for the thatching are produced by artisans from the Nakan Eupseong Preservation Society, who weave the thatch themselves using traditional techniques.

Nakan Eupseong is home to about 300 thatched-roof houses, including 83 managed by Suncheon City. Since these houses are actual residences for local residents, rethatching the roofs after the harvest plays an important role in preserving traditional homes and maintaining the landscape.

Foreign visitors to Nakan Eupseong have expressed great interest in Korean traditional thatched-roof houses, marveling at the thatching work and commenting that it resembles decorating a Christmas tree.

Nakan Eupseong is dedicated to passing down traditional skills and training specialists through a local school where artisans teach thatching techniques from the Joseon Dynasty, including weaving thatch, making roof wings, and crafting yongmareum (decorative roof ridges). The site also offers a variety of attractions and hands-on experiences for tourists.

Each year, the city replaces the roofs of approximately 300 thatched houses, including government offices and private homes, in order to preserve the unique thatching culture of the Honam region, prevent the deterioration of traditional homes, and maintain the historic landscape.

Lee Kyungseop, director of the Nakan Eupseong Preservation Society, stated, "We have continuously worked to preserve traditional skills by operating the 'thatched roof repair process' program," adding, "We will do our utmost to continue upholding the national heritage value of Nakan Eupseong in the future."