National Heritage Administration Registers Kim Dae-jung's Donggyo-dong Residence as National Cultural Heritage

Registration of the 'Seoul Donggyo-dong Kim Dae-jung House'
Preservation of Nameplate, Main Gate, and Second-Floor Space

The former residence of the late President Kim Dae-jung has become a national heritage site. According to the National Heritage Administration on December 16, the Cultural Heritage Committee has decided to designate the 'Seoul Donggyo-dong Kim Dae-jung House,' located in Donggyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, as a nationally registered cultural heritage site. The National Heritage Administration plans to complete the administrative procedures by the end of this month and officially announce the registration as a nationally registered cultural heritage site in the government gazette.

The Seoul Donggyo-dong Kim Dae-jung House is a place of great significance in modern Korean history. After settling there in 1963, President Kim lived in Donggyo-dong continuously until his passing in 2009, except for his periods of exile in the United States, studies in the United Kingdom, and about two years spent in Ilsan. The term 'Donggyo-dong faction,' referring to those who shared his political vision, also originated from this location.

The current building was constructed in 2002, after demolishing the original structure in preparation for his retirement, and includes both the residence and a security facility. The National Heritage Administration plans to work with the relevant local government and the property owner to preserve, manage, and utilize the house in the future.

The National Heritage Administration explained, "It is a space where President Kim lived from his retirement until his passing, and it is characterized by the coexistence of public, private, and security functions."