Kim Jeong-hui is credited with creating the 'Chusa-che' calligraphy style, characterized by its unique, bold structural interpretation of Chinese characters.
The property contains a white pine tree (Baeksong) that Kim Jeong-hui is said to have brought back from Beijing as a sapling during his diplomatic travels.
The house is designed in a 'ㄷ' shape, a functional floor plan that provided efficient climate control and separation between public and private living spaces.
The site includes a grave area nearby where Kim Jeong-hui and his descendants are interred, adhering to traditional geomantic principles.
Chusa's exile to Jeju Island served as a period of profound artistic growth, leading to the creation of his most famous masterpiece, the Sehando painting.
The House of Chusa is the ancestral home of Kim Jeong-hui, a preeminent 19th-century Joseon Dynasty scholar, calligrapher, and artist known as Chusa. The site preserves a traditional Korean 'hanok' structure reflecting the elite architectural styles of the late Joseon period. It features a main living space, storage areas, and an attached shrine where ancestral tablets were once kept. The surrounding grounds include a memorial hall dedicated to showcasing Kim's calligraphy, known as 'Chusa-che', and his significant epigraphic research. The site is situated in Yesan-gun, a region central to the Kim clan's history. A notable feature of the property is the baeksong (white pine) tree, which holds historical significance due to its connection to the family's legacy in Beijing. The architecture demonstrates the distinct 'ㄷ' (d-shaped) layout typical of high-status regional homes of that era.
The inner courtyard looking toward the main gate during late afternoon to capture the light against the traditional tiled roof.
Walk the perimeter trail to view the ancestral burial mounds situated in the hillside behind the house.
Visit the memorial hall first to gain context on Kim Jeong-hui's calligraphy before touring the living quarters.
Check the local county calendar for seasonal cultural festivals held on-site, which often feature traditional ink-wash painting demonstrations.
Attempting to climb or sit on the historical stone walls or wooden railing elements.
Closed on Mondays.
Remove shoes before stepping onto wooden maru (floors) or entering the internal rooms of the hanok.
