The 1932 Jang Hyeon-sik Historic House: A Gimje Hanok in Jeonju

A Hanok Relocated from Geumgu-myeon, Gimje, to Jeonju in 2009

Jang Hyeon-sik’s Historic House is a traditional Korean house that was relocated from Seodom village in Geumgu-myeon, Gimje-si, North Jeolla Province, to Jeonju Hanok Village. It was built in 1932 by Ilsong Jang Hyeon-sik in his hometown of Seodom village, Geumgu-myeon, Gimje, and demonstrates the changes in modern hanok architecture built using traditional methods in the 1930s.

In 2007, Jang Hong, a descendant of Jang Hyeon-sik, donated the main quarters and middle quarters of the traditional hanok inherited from his ancestors. Jeonju City relocated them to Jeonju Hanok Village and renovated them in December 2009. Therefore, the historic house at its current address was not originally located in Jeonju but was moved there from Gimje.

A House Where Jang Hyeon-sik’s Independence Movement and Educational Work Can Be Read Together

Jang Hyeon-sik (1896–1950) was an independence activist, social worker, and politician from Geumgu, Gimje. In April 1919, he provided military funds to Daedongdan, a secret independence movement organization, and managed the finances of the Daedong Newspaper. After being arrested, he was sentenced to three years in prison in 1921 and imprisoned.

He established Jungang Academy, a foundation for national education, and oversaw the construction of eight classrooms on the second floor of the main building when Korea University was founded. He donated funds to purchase a printing press when the Dong-A Ilbo was launched and contributed 3,000 won at the time to the compilation of the Korean Language Dictionary. He was imprisoned after becoming involved in the Korean Language Society Incident and later served as the second governor of North Jeolla Province after liberation.

After being abducted from his home in Myeongnyun-dong, Seoul, on June 28, 1950, he died in Pyongyang on October 24 of the same year. In 1990, the government posthumously awarded him the Order of Merit for National Foundation, Patriotic Medal. When viewing the historic house, understanding it as the living space of a person who used his wealth to support education and preserve national culture, rather than considering the building in isolation, makes clear why it is now used as an exhibition and training facility.

What to See in the Main Quarters’ High Windows and the Relocated Men’s Quarters

Jang Hyeon-sik’s Historic House is introduced as a complex of four buildings, including the main quarters and men’s quarters, constructed using traditional methods. Its sophisticated level of woodworking is regarded as giving it high architectural value as a traditional hanok, and visitors can examine how hanok architecture in the 1930s continued traditional forms.

In particular, the high windows in the main quarters were designed so that they could also be used as sliding doors. Rather than simply looking at a window, visitors can observe the design of the master carpenter, who combined the functions of doors and windows.

The men’s quarters currently in front of the historic house are not the original buildings from Gimje. They were relocated from the men’s quarters of the Jin Chambong House, which stood in Seonggari, Imsil-eup, Imsil County. The exact construction date of those men’s quarters is reportedly unknown.

Open from 09:00 to 17:00, but Closed on Weekends

According to the Jeonju Traditional Culture Training Center, its operating hours are 09:00–17:00. Closed days are Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. These hours and closure days refer to the training center’s facilities rather than the operating hours of Jang Hyeon-sik’s Historic House as an independent tourist attraction.

The individual operating hours of Jang Hyeon-sik’s Historic House and the scope of the training center’s operating hours are not separately specified in the public information. The areas open to visitors and restricted-access zones have also not been confirmed, so visitors should not assume that they can freely enter spaces being used for training or education, even if they arrive during weekday operating hours.

The inquiry telephone number is the Jeonju Traditional Culture Training Center’s main line, 063-281-5271~4, and its official website is https://www.dongheon.or.kr/dongheon-story/ . No separate main telephone number for Jang Hyeon-sik’s Historic House has been provided.

Check Training Center Experience Reservations Before Looking for an Individual Admission Fee

No individual admission fee for Jang Hyeon-sik’s Historic House is listed separately in the official usage information for the Jeonju Traditional Culture Training Center. Therefore, it cannot be considered a standard paid tourist attraction where visitors pay a specific amount and can view the interior at any time. Places requiring admission fees during a Hanok Village tour are paid for individually and should be distinguished from an individual admission fee for Jang Hyeon-sik’s Historic House.

The Jeonju Traditional Culture Training Center operates as a historic-house facility offering traditional culture training, education, and accommodation. Sasang g [traditional ceremonial meeting] costs 300,000 won per session, Hyangsa-rye costs 300,000 won per session, and Hyangeumjurye costs 500,000 won per session. These are experience fees confirmed as of 2026.

Craft experiences cost 15,000–21,000 won per person for traditional snacks, 10,000–50,000 won per person for mother-of-pearl crafts, 25,000 won per person for traditional seal engraving, and 30,000 won per person for a hanji flower diffuser. Traditional games are listed at 500,000 won per session. Since these experiences are different from simple admission to the historic house, advance inquiries are necessary if you intend to participate.

Start the Hyanggyo Scholar’s Path in Front of the Taejo-ro Rest Area

For travelers visiting Jeonju for the first time, the clearest option based on the publicly available transportation information is to use the Jeonju Hanok Village Hyanggyo Scholar’s Path tour. The tour starts at the banner in front of the Taejo-ro Rest Area, and the main route includes the Traditional Culture Training Center (Jang Hyeon-sik’s Historic House) and Jeonju Hyanggyo.

The Hyanggyo Scholar’s Path tour takes one hour, and the Korean-language commentary is provided daily at 10:00. The regular Jeonju Hanok Village tour operates every day, does not require reservations, and is free, although visitors must pay individually for tourist attractions that charge admission.

This information does not provide the station names, exit numbers, bus routes, or walking times from Jeonju Station or the bus terminal to the Taejo-ro Rest Area. Therefore, if traveling directly from an external starting point to Jang Hyeon-sik’s Historic House, the most practical detailed route is to enter the address 119-6 Hyanggyo-gil, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk State, into a map app and use the Taejo-ro Rest Area as the tour meeting point.

Plan to Use a Public Hanok Village Parking Lot

No dedicated parking lot or parking fees for Jang Hyeon-sik’s Historic House have been confirmed in the public information. Nearby public parking options in Jeonju Hanok Village include Parking Lots 1–3 and on-street parking. The fee is 1,200 won for the first 30 minutes, 600 won for every additional 15 minutes, and a maximum of 14,400 won per day.

The address is 119-6 Hyanggyo-gil, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk State. Do not assume that vehicles can enter and park directly in front of the historic house; it is safer to park in a public lot and walk through the alleys of Hanok Village.

Accessibility information states that there is no step at the main entrance, wheelchairs and strollers are available for rental, and there are accessible restrooms, designated disabled parking spaces, and an elevator for visitors with disabilities. However, it has not been separately confirmed that all interior spaces, stairs, and slopes of Jang Hyeon-sik’s Historic House meet the same conditions.

What Foreign Visitors May Easily Miss on Site

Jang Hyeon-sik’s Historic House is part of the Traditional Culture Training Center and is used for trainee accommodation and education. Therefore, viewing the exterior from outside the walls and using the training center’s interior spaces for an experience are different activities. The areas open to interior visitors, restricted-access zones, photography restrictions, and whether payment is cash-only have not been confirmed in separate visitor information.

It has also not been confirmed whether English information or a dedicated audio guide for Jang Hyeon-sik’s Historic House is available. The official Hyanggyo Scholar’s Path tour provides commentary in Korean and departs daily at 10:00 from the banner in front of the Taejo-ro Rest Area. Visitors who need commentary in Korean should take the tour’s operating conditions into account.

In bad weather, the route and schedule of the regular Jeonju Hanok Village tour may be suspended or changed. Rather than travelers who only want to take a few quick photographs of Jang Hyeon-sik’s Historic House, this destination is better suited to visitors who want to come during weekday daytime hours, examine the structure of the relocated hanok, and, if desired, reserve a traditional culture experience.