'Cradle of the independence movement': Andong's Imcheonggak to be fully restored by 2025

Social Affairs

'Cradle of the independence movement': Andong's Imcheonggak to be fully restored by 2025

Published: 15 Aug. 2024, 18:25 Updated: 15 Aug. 2024, 18:37

CHO JUNG-WOO
cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr

Restoration construction is underway at Imcheonggak in Andong, North Gyeongsang, a traditional Korean house of the aristocrat Seokju Lee Sang-ryong (1858-1932), in an undated photo provided by the city government. [ANDONG CITY GOVERNMENT]

Imcheonggak in Andong, North Gyeongsang, the home of aristocrat Seokju Lee Sang-ryong (1858-1932), will be completely restored by 2025.

According to the Korean government and the Andong city government Thursday, the hanok (traditional Korean-style house), also the nation's Treasure No. 182, will be fully restored by next year, marking the 80th anniversary of the country’s independence from Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule.

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The restoration project of Imcheonggak, a space that symbolizes Korea’s noblesse oblige, began in 2019. The year 2019 marked the 100th anniversary of the Korean provisional government.

Around 28 billion won ($20.7 million) has been allocated to restore the historic mansion and the surrounding areas damaged by railway construction.

“We have been able to restore Imcheonggak nearly 80 years after we regained our national sovereignty from Japanese colonial rule,” Andong Mayor Kwon Gi-chang said.

“The restoration of Imcheonggak, which was the cradle of the independence movement, will contribute to restoring the people’s self-esteem.”

Around 90 percent of the restoration has been completed.

A photo provided by the Andong city government shows Imcheonggak with 99 rooms before parts of it were demolished by the Japanese government. [ANDONG CITY GOVERNMENT]

Built in 1515, Imcheonggak is one of the oldest houses in Korean history and one of many sprawling jongga (traditional house of an aristocrat) in Andong.

Originally equipped with 99 rooms overlooking the Nakdong River, around 50 of the rooms were demolished by the Japanese government for railway construction in 1942. The Japanese government laid a railway on the property as a response to Lee’s efforts in fighting against Japanese colonial rule, blocking the view of the Nakdong River.

A total of 11 freedom fighters, including Lee’s brothers and son, lived at this place.

An exhibition space to commemorate the history of Lee and his involvement in independence movements will be built in front of Imcheonggak.

Seokju Lee Sang-ryong [ANDONG CITY GOVERNMENT]

Seokju Lee Sang-ryong, a representative figure of the historic piece of architecture, was born in the house in 1858.

In January 1911, Lee, the head of the Lee family at the time, buried his family’s ancestral tablets, took his savings and escaped to China with about 50 family members as the Japanese took over Korea’s national sovereignty and began its colonial rule on the peninsula. He promised himself that he would not return until Korea became independent.

He led the independence struggle, formed the independence movement organization Gyeonghaksa in 1913 and established the Sinheung Training Center, the predecessor of the Sinheung Military Academy. He also served as the first prime minister of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in 1925.

However, he died at the age of 74 in Jilin Province in northeast China in May 1932, before seeing Korea’s independence. He left his last message of not bringing his bones back before his country regained its independence.

He was laid to rest at Daejeon National Cemetery in 1990 and now is at Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak District, southern Seoul.

BY KIM JUNG-SEOK AND CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]