Yesan Chusa House: Tracing the Roots of Chusa Calligraphy in a 53-Room Residence
Chusa House in Sinam-myeon, Yesan, Chungcheongnam-do, was where Chusa Kim Jeong-hui (1786–1856) was born and raised. It began as a 53-room residence bestowed by King Yeongjo on Kim Han-sin, the Prince Consort Wolseong. Exploring the servant quarters, men’s quarters, women’s quarters, ancestral shrine, Chusa Memorial Hall, and Hwaamsa Temple together offers a complete view of Kim Jeong-hui’s life, scholarship, and calligraphy along one route.
The 53-Bay Residence Granted by King Yeongjo to Wolsongwi Kim Han-sin, and Chusa Kim Jeong-hui’s ‘Spiritual Homeland’
Chusa House is located in Yonggung-ri, Sinam-myeon, Yesan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, and Yesan-gun introduces it as a 53-bay residence bestowed by King Yeongjo of Joseon on his son-in-law, Wolsongwi Kim Han-sin. Kim Jeong-hui became the heir of this family after becoming the ritual heir of Wolsongwi, and the old house became a place connecting Chusa Kim Jeong-hui’s birth, growth, and artistic world.
Kim Jeong-hui was a late-Joseon Silhak scholar, epigrapher, and calligrapher who was born in 1786 and died in 1856. As traces of him, including stone inscriptions, remain around the old house and Yonggung-ri, Yesan-gun describes this place not simply as a birthplace but as a ‘spiritual homeland’ where his life and thoughts are concentrated. Chusa House has been selected as the third scenic site among the Ten Scenic Views of Yesan.
- Address: 261 Chusa-gotaek-ro, Sinam-myeon, Yesan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
- Inquiries: Chusa House Team, Yesan-gun Tourism Facilities Office, 041-339-8248
- Yesan-gun Tourist Information Center: 041-339-8930
Reading the Circulation of a Late-Joseon Aristocratic Residence Through the Gatehouse, L-Shaped Men’s Quarters, and Square-Shaped Women’s Quarters
The surviving arrangement consists of the gatehouse, men’s quarters, women’s quarters, and ancestral shrine quarters. The women’s quarters of the old house form a square-shaped layout, with a six-bay main hall, two-bay main and secondary rooms, a kitchen, inner gate, side gate, and storage room, showing the structure of a large Joseon-era aristocratic residence in which the family’s living spaces gathered inward.
The men’s quarters in the courtyard inside the outer elevated gate are L-shaped. There is one heated room to the south and two heated rooms to the east, while most of the remaining space consists of the main hall and wooden floors. Yesan-gun believes the spacious wooden floor was used for the owner’s social and artistic activities. The stone pillars in front of the stone threshold of the men’s quarters were used as supports for a sundial, and the inscription ‘Seoknyeon’ was carved from characters written in Chusa style by Kim Jeong-hui’s son, Sang-u.
- Viewing order: Gatehouse → Men’s quarters courtyard → Women’s quarters → Ancestral shrine quarters
- Architectural highlights: Men’s quarters are L-shaped; women’s quarters are square-shaped
- Notable artifact: Stone sundial support pillar and ‘Seoknyeon’ inscription in front of the men’s quarters
Why to Confirm Admission Conditions and Call 041-339-8248 Before Visiting Between 10:00 and 17:00
The Korea Tourism Organization’s integrated reservation service for cultural tourism interpreters lists Chusa House’s operating hours as 10:00–17:00. The same information lists 041-339-8247 and 041-339-7323 as contact numbers, while the on-site contact on Yesan-gun’s tourism page is 041-339-8248. Since the latest official information on closing days and admission fees could not be secured within this review, it is safest to call 041-339-8248 before departure to confirm whether it will be operating that day.
The official tourism page lists the Chusa Memorial Hall, Chusa’s Tomb, the tombs and commemorative gate of Wolsongwi and Princess Hwasun, Natural Monument No. 106 Baeksong, and Hwaamsa Temple as nearby related heritage sites along with Chusa House. Allow 40–60 minutes to view the interior layout of the old house, or about 1.5–2 hours if including the memorial hall and surrounding sites.
- Operating hours: 10:00–17:00
- Admission fee:
- Closing days:
- Official website: https://www.yesan.go.kr/prog/trrsrt/tour/sub02_01_03/view.do?trrsrtNo=8
- Recommended time: 40–60 minutes for the old house; 1.5–2 hours including the memorial hall and nearby sites
Yonggung-ri, Sinam-myeon, Reached by Rural Bus No. 440 from Yesan Bus Terminal
For public transportation, using Yesan Intercity Bus Terminal or Yesan Station as a base is the most practical approach. Korea Tourism Organization open tourism information states that rural bus No. 440 bound for Chusa House can be taken from the bus stop at Yesan Terminal. Because rural bus schedules and routes may vary, confirm the destination as ‘Chusa House’ with Yesan-gun transportation information or at the terminal before boarding.
From the Seoul area, the available information lists Central Terminal–Yesan Intercity Bus Terminal at five services per day and about 1 hour 30 minutes, Dong Seoul Intercity Bus Terminal–Yesan Intercity Bus Terminal at two services per day and about 2 hours 10 minutes, and Seoul Nambu Bus Terminal–Yesan Intercity Bus Terminal at four services per day and about 2 hours. For rail travel, an earlier notice listed Yongsan Station–Yesan Station at 14 services per day and about 1 hour 48 minutes, but the number of services may change, so check the booking screen.
- Rural bus from Yesan Terminal: No. 440
- Driving destination: 261 Chusa-gotaek-ro, Sinam-myeon, Yesan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
- Parking:
- Wheelchair and stroller accessibility:
How to Link a Sehando Experience at the Chusa Memorial Hall with Hwaamsa Temple’s Rock Inscriptions in One Day
Across from the old house, the Chusa Memorial Hall has exhibition, video, and experience rooms introducing Kim Jeong-hui’s calligraphy and scholarship. Korea Tourism Organization materials mention experiences such as practicing Chusa-style calligraphy and making a fan using ‘Sehando’. Since experience schedules and materials may not be fixed year-round, it is best to ask the old house team whether reservations or on-site participation are available.
Hwaamsa Temple is a place that can be visited together with the old house. On Byeongpung Rock behind Hwaamsa are rock inscriptions introduced as having been carved by Kim Jeong-hui, including ‘Sigyeong’ and ‘The Residence of the Ancient Sage of Tianzhu’. Since guidance notes that the trail from the old house to Hwaamsa has steep sections, visitors with limited mobility or those bringing a stroller should travel by vehicle to the Hwaamsa parking lot instead of using the walking connection.
- Chusa Memorial Hall: Exhibition room, video room, and experience room
- Hwaamsa Temple address: 21-29 Yonggung 1-gil, Sinam-myeon, Yesan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
- Hwaamsa Temple inquiries: 041-332-9250
- Caution: The trail between the old house and Hwaamsa has steep sections
From Baeksong and Princess Hwasun’s Commemorative Gate to Chusa’s Tomb: A Complete Kim Jeong-hui Tour in Yonggung-ri
Heritage sites connected with Kim Jeong-hui’s family are distributed around Chusa House, including Chusa’s Tomb, the tombs of Wolsongwi and Princess Hwasun, a commemorative gate, Baeksong, and Hwaamsa Temple. In particular, Baeksong near the old house is designated Natural Monument No. 106, allowing visitors to look beyond a single residence and explore the living sphere of the royal son-in-law’s family and the Chusa family.
Visitors expecting original works or calligraphy by Kim Jeong-hui should not view the architecture of the old house and the memorial hall exhibition separately. At the old house, you can connect the spaces of the family in which he grew up with the uses of the main hall and wooden floors; at the memorial hall, you can connect Chusa-style calligraphy with his scholarly achievements. Tourism information notes that photography visits increase around the spring blossom season, so those seeking an architecture-focused visit may prefer to arrive soon after opening, around 10:00, and see the old house first.
- Nearby related heritage sites: Chusa’s Tomb, the tombs of Wolsongwi and Princess Hwasun, commemorative gate, Baeksong, and Hwaamsa Temple
- Baeksong designation: Natural Monument No. 106
- Seasonal note: Photography visits may increase during the spring blossom season
Travel Priorities When Combining Scenic Site No. 3 of the Ten Scenic Views of Yesan with Sudeoksa Temple and Chung-uisa Shrine
Chusa House is Scenic Site No. 3 among the Ten Scenic Views of Yesan, while Yesan-gun has also selected Sudeoksa Temple as No. 1 and Chung-uisa Shrine as No. 2. If planning a day around historical figures, an easy-to-follow itinerary is Chusa House and the memorial hall in the morning, followed by Chung-uisa Shrine and the heritage sites associated with Yun Bong-gil in the afternoon. If you also want to see Buddhist temple architecture, it is better to schedule Sudeoksa Temple as a separate segment.
Yesan-gun tourism information states that rural bus No. 558 operates from Yesan Terminal toward Sudeoksa Temple, Chung-uisa Shrine, and Deoksan Hot Springs. Therefore, after visiting Chusa House on bus No. 440, you can return to the terminal and then travel into the No. 558 service area, but same-day bus connection times must be confirmed on site. If coordinating with bus departures is difficult, using a rental car or taxi will reduce wasted travel time.
- Ten Scenic Views of Yesan: No. 1 Sudeoksa Temple, No. 2 Chung-uisa Shrine, No. 3 Chusa House
- Rural bus toward Sudeoksa Temple, Chung-uisa Shrine, and Deoksan Hot Springs: No. 558
- Tourism inquiries: Yesan-gun Tourist Information Center, 041-339-8930
Before You Go
- Address
- 261 Chusa-gotaek-ro, Sinam-myeon, Yesan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
- Hours
- 10:00–17:00
- Phone
- 041-339-8248
- Official site
- https://www.yesan.go.kr/prog/trrsrt/tour/sub02_01_03/view.do?trrsrtNo=8
- Transport
- Rural bus No. 440 is available from the bus stop at Yesan Intercity Bus Terminal. Checking operating times and stops before boarding is recommended.
- Time needed
- 40–60 minutes for the old house; 1.5–2 hours including the Chusa Memorial Hall and nearby heritage sites
- Accessibility
- The trail between the old house and Hwaamsa has steep sections, so vehicle travel is recommended for visitors with limited mobility. Inquiries about wheelchair and stroller facilities are recommended in advance.
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
Chusa Memorial HallExhibits calligraphy and scholarly materials related to Chusa Kim Jeong-hui. -
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3
Yesan Yonggung-ri White PineSee the natural monument white pine said to have been planted by Chusa.
Food & Dining 2
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5
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