Namcheon Old House is the oldest house in Gunwi-gun, located in Hanbam Village (Bugye-myeon Daeyul-ri), a settlement of the Burim Hong clan, and has also been called Sangmaetaek or Ssangbaekdang. The Burim Hong clan formed a settlement here after their founding ancestor, Hong Ro, a Goryeo Munhasa-in (門下舍人), settled in Gunwi-gun. Namcheon Old House was the residence of Hong U-tae, the 10th generation descendant of Hong No, and has been passed down by the eldest grandsons for generations, producing two successful candidates in the state examination and one jinsaha (scholarship holder). Facing northwest according to the terrain, the inner house is shaped like the Korean letter ㄷ while the sarangchae in front is slightly offset in an ㅡ shape; behind the inner house, within a courtyard wall, is a shrine. After liberation, the middle gate building and lower building were demolished, and the main gate building location was changed, among other alterations. It has been repaired several times, and the beam inscription states the sarangchae was built in the 2nd year of Heonjong (1836). Originally, the house had a unique 'Hong (鬨)'-shaped layout, but after liberation, the middle gate building and lower building were removed and the main gate building was relocated, changing the house’s orientation. The inner house has a '冂'-shaped layout, showing practicality in the arrangement of rooms. A barn with a furnace was placed between the connecting room and the pantry, with a loft above accessed by a ladder from the main hall, and a verandah with a railing in front of the loft. Besides the inner house, there is the ㅡ-shaped sarangchae and a shrine, surrounded by a natural stone wall, features uncommon in other residential buildings. (Source: National Heritage Agency)
Hanbam Village in Gunwi-gun is located on the northern foothills of Palgongsan Mountain, offering scenic views, and the entire village’s houses face north, which is unique. Most houses are built in traditional hanok style, and the stone walls were constructed using stones carried by the great flood of 1930 (the Year of Gyeong-o), stretching a total of 6.5 km, earning it the nickname 'Jeju Island of the mainland.' The stone walls, naturally built from river stones collected in the area, harmonize with the traditional houses and create an old-fashioned curved alley ambiance that is well preserved. Gunwi Daeyulli Daecheong, located in the alley, is Gyeongsangbuk-do Tangible Cultural Property No. 262; originally built in the early Joseon period, it was burned during the Imjin War and rebuilt in the 10th year of King Injo. It was used as a school and now serves as the village senior center, a traditional building. Next to Daecheong, Gunwi Namcheon Gotaek now operates as a hanok pension, and visitors can tour the interior by reservation, allowing visitors to feel the beauty of the traditional village along with a walk on the stone wall road. In spring, many visitors come to see a single cherry blossom tree behind the stone wall. Though not a large cluster, the scenery of this single cherry blossom tree set against old houses and stone walls has already become famous as a hotspot on social media.
Hanbam Village is located in Bugye-myeon, Gunwi-gun, Daegu. Each house is surrounded by low stone walls that create a cozy atmosphere, as if quietly sharing old stories. The 10-ri-long stone walls and traditional houses have been preserved intact for 1000 years, and the surrounding pavilions and landscaping provide a tranquil setting that makes visitors stop and linger. Around 950 AD, a scholar named Hong Ran of the Burim Hong clan migrated here and named the village Daeya (大夜). Later, the character representing night (夜) was replaced with the character for large chestnut (大栗), and the village came to be called Daeyul-ri Hanbam Village.
◎ Travel information to meet Hallyu’s charm - TV series"The Good Bad Mother"
Serving as the inspiration for Jowoori Village in the show “The Good Bad Mother,” this charming village under the Palgongsan Mountain retains the picturesque stone walls and sceneries of rural Korean villages. If you were a fan of the show, head to Hanbam Village and walk along the stone walls to re-live your favorite scenes.
