Unbo’s House: Walking Through Kim Ki-chang’s Later Years and a 27,000-Pyeong Garden
Unbo’s House is a cultural and artistic space featuring the hanok where painter Unbo Kim Ki-chang spent his later years, the Unbo Art Museum, the Life of Jesus Museum, and gardens and a sculpture park. Located on the outskirts of Cheongju, it is more practical to reach by car than by public transportation. As operating hours and admission fees may vary depending on when the information was provided, check the applicable date when planning your visit.
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The House Kim Ki-chang Built in 1984 After Moving to Cheongju in 1976
Unbo’s House is a cultural and artistic space where painter Kim Ki-chang spent his later years. After his wife, Uhyang Park Rae-hyun, passed away in 1976, Kim Ki-chang moved to Cheongju, his mother’s hometown, and gradually purchased land before completing Unbo’s House in Hyeongdong-ri, Naesu-eup, Cheongwon-gun, in 1984.
“Unbo” was Kim Ki-chang’s pen name, and he died in 2001 at the age of 88. He lost his hearing to an illness at age eight, became a student of Idang Kim Eun-ho, and continued his artistic career. He is introduced as an artist who produced more than 15,000 works.
Why a Traditional House, Museum, and Tomb Share 27,000 Pyeong
Unbo’s House occupies a 27,000-pyeong site containing the traditional house where Kim Ki-chang lived, an art museum, teahouse, ceramics workshop, and Unbo’s tomb. The traditional house includes rooms, a kitchen, a pavilion, and a pond, while the main quarters, servants’ quarters, and stone walls connect with the garden.
The pavilion was where Kim Ki-chang exchanged written notes with guests, and the pond was home to the koi he fed during his lifetime. As of 2024, the site was introduced as one of Korea’s “100 Great Gardens.” Unlike ordinary art museums, it is a place where visitors can view both gardens and architecture.
Viewing Order from the Life of Jesus Gallery to the Underground Drawing Exhibition
The official visitor route is the Life of Jesus Gallery, traditional house, Unbo Art Museum, and garden and sculpture park, in that order. The Life of Jesus Gallery is introduced as displaying 30 Christian paintings in which Kim Ki-chang depicted the Passion of Jesus in Korean painting. Visitors can first see how he interpreted Western religious themes through the lines and colors of Korean painting.
Unbo Art Museum was opened to the public after expanding the Unhyang Art Museum, which was built and donated by Dr. Kim Heung-bae. It consists of three exhibition rooms, an archive room, a video room, a curatorial office, and a collection storage area. Visitors can see works not only by Kim Ki-chang but also by his wife, Uhyang Park Rae-hyun, and his younger brother, Kim Ki-man. An exhibition titled “Visible Sound: Drawing Exhibition” is arranged underground.
A Short Uphill Walk, Not Flat Ground, from the Ticket Office to the Traditional House
When arriving by car, visitors find the ticket office by going uphill from the large parking lot at the village entrance and turning right. A 2024 visitor review mentioned a blue sotdae, a traditional Korean pole, as a sign indicating the ticket office.
After purchasing a ticket, reviews describe the route to the traditional house as involving “just a little uphill walking.” According to the official information, the garden and sculpture park are freely accessible areas, but detailed information about wheelchair access, slopes, and stairs has not been confirmed. Stroller rentals are not available.
09:30–17:30 Tuesday to Friday, Until 18:00 on Weekends
According to publicly available tourism information, operating hours are 09:30–17:30 from Tuesday to Friday and 09:30–18:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. The same information states that admission is allowed until one hour before closing, so it is safest to plan to enter before 16:30 on weekdays and before 17:00 on weekends.
The official information lists Mondays as the regular closing day, but the site opens when Monday is a public holiday. A notice of a month-long closure was posted for January 2026, so travelers visiting during that period should adjust their schedules based on announcements from the official website.
Admission Fees and Group Criteria Based on 2023 Public Tourism Information
According to public tourism information from 2023, individual admission fees were KRW 6,000 for adults, KRW 5,000 for youths and seniors aged 65 or older, and KRW 4,000 for children and visitors with disabilities. Children under five entered free. Credit card use was listed as available, but the current official fee table and discount criteria have not been confirmed.
Groups consist of 20 or more people. Group fees were listed as KRW 4,000 for adults, KRW 3,000 for youths and seniors, and KRW 2,000 for children and visitors with disabilities. Guided tours for groups on weekdays require advance reservations. The reservation phone number is 043-213-0570.
Regular Guided Tours at 10:30 and 14:00 on Saturdays
The official website lists regular Saturday guided tours from 10:30 to 11:30 in the morning and from 14:00 to 15:00 in the afternoon, one session each. To arrive in time for a tour, it is suitable to enter after opening at 09:30 and plan to visit the Life of Jesus Gallery and traditional house route first.
The official website provides information materials in English, Japanese, and Chinese for foreign visitors. However, whether audio guides operate, whether photography is prohibited on site, and the current operating periods of individual exhibitions have not been confirmed. Visitors hoping to take photographs in the galleries should follow on-site signs and staff instructions.
An Outlying Cultural Site Accessible by Car from Cheongju IC and the Airport
The address is 92-41 Hyeongdong 2-gil, Naesu-eup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do. The official driving route from Cheongju IC leads through Gagyeong-dong Bus Terminal Intersection, toward Chungju and Jeungpyeong, Cheongju Juseong Intersection, and Juseong College Intersection before continuing to Unbo and Garden.
From Seocheongju IC, travel through the Downtown Entrance Intersection toward Chungju and the airport, then proceed to Cheongju Juseong Intersection. From Ochang IC, approach via Cheongju Airport, Chojeong, and Miwon. From Jeungpyeong IC, travel toward Cheongju from Jeungpyeong-eup Intersection and pass through Naesu-eup Intersection. Bus routes, stops, and walking distances have not been confirmed, so for foreign visitors traveling to Cheongju for the first time, a rental car or taxi may be a more predictable option.
Parking Is Available, but the Size and Fees of the Two Lots Are Unconfirmed
Public tourism information lists parking as available, and a 2019 visitor review stated that parking was convenient because two parking lots were provided. However, parking fees and capacity have not been confirmed.
Pets are listed as not permitted in the public tourism information. No official visit duration has been provided. If you plan to see the traditional house, Life of Jesus Gallery, three exhibition rooms, garden, and sculpture park, it is advisable to allow extra time depending on your pace through each exhibition.
What Is Easy to Miss When Visiting as a Mr. Sunshine Filming Location
Unbo’s House is known as the location that appeared in the drama Mr. Sunshine as the American legation where the protagonist Eugene Choi worked. However, its main attraction is not a set recreating filming scenes, but a complex of traditional houses and museums preserving Kim Ki-chang’s living space and works.
It is therefore better suited to people who want to see Korean paintings, the rooms, kitchen, pavilion, and pond of a traditional house, and the garden and sculpture park all at once than to travelers who simply want to take quick photographs of a filming location. The official website is https://unbo.co.kr/, the main phone number is 043-213-0570, and the email address is [email protected].
Before You Go
- Address
- 92-41 Hyeongdong 2-gil, Naesu-eup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do
- Hours
- Tue–Fri 09:30–17:30 / Sat–Sun 09:30–18:00. Admission available until one hour before closing.
- Closed
- Closed every Monday. Open when Monday is a public holiday. Closed for the entire month of January 2026 according to a posted notice.
- Admission
- Based on public tourism information: Individuals—adults KRW 6,000; youths and seniors aged 65 or older KRW 5,000; children and visitors with disabilities KRW 4,000. Groups of 20 or more—adults KRW 4,000; youths and seniors KRW 3,000; children and visitors with disabilities KRW 2,000. Free for children under five. Confirm current fees by phone.
- Phone
- 043-213-0570
- Official site
- https://unbo.co.kr/
- Transport
- Official driving routes approach from Cheongju IC, Seocheongju IC, Ochang IC, and Jeungpyeong IC via Cheongju Juseong Intersection, Juseong College Intersection, Naesu-eup Intersection, and other points. Bus routes and stop information for public transportation could not be confirmed.
- Parking
- Parking available. A 2019 visitor review stated that two parking lots were provided. Parking fees and capacity could not be confirmed.
- Time needed
- No objective visit duration was found in visitor reviews.
- Accessibility
- No stroller rentals. Reviews describe the route from the ticket office to the traditional house as involving a short uphill walk. Wheelchair access and information about slopes and stairs could not be confirmed.
The information above is current as of the time of writing. Check the official information again before visiting.
Places
Nearby Attractions 3
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1
Chojeong Temporary PalaceExplore the temporary palace and exhibitions recreating the history of King Sejong the Great’s stay. -
2
Chojung Healing VillageExperience spa treatments and meditation-based healing using Chojung mineral spring water. -
3
Cheongju Comprehensive Shooting RangeExplore a specialized sports facility for shooting competitions.
Food & Dining 3
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4
Chojeong Yegang Ureong SsambapEnjoy a ssambap set meal featuring freshwater snail ssambap and spicy stir-fried pork. -
5
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