Seongnakwon, Found to Have Historical Inaccuracies, Renamed and Re-designated as a Scenic Site

Focusing on Newly Revealed Historicity, Re-designation as 'Seoul Seongbuk-dong Byeolseo' Underway

The villa ‘Seongnakwon’ (a secluded house built near a farm or field), which became a national cultural heritage site under incorrect naming and grounds, has ultimately lost its status as a scenic site. Redesignation is being pursued based on newly revealed cultural heritage values.

On the 24th, the Cultural Heritage Administration accepted the errors in the designated name and grounds raised regarding ‘Seongnakwon’ at the Cultural Heritage Committee (Natural Monument Subcommittee) meeting and decided to revoke its scenic site designation. Instead, focusing on the newly discovered historical significance, beautiful landscape, and academic value, they are pushing for redesignation under the new name ‘Seoul Seongbuk-dong Villa.’

This decision was made after comprehensively reviewing the results of previous investigations. The villa was designated as Scenic Site No. 35 in 2008. At that time, the Cultural Heritage Administration cited historical grounds such as Shim Sang-eung, who served as Minister of Personnel during King Cheoljong’s reign in the Joseon Dynasty, having established the villa, and Prince Uichin, King Gojong’s son, having used it as a secondary palace. However, in June last year, the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage investigated related documents and materials and held advisory meetings, confirming that Shim Sang-eung was not a real historical figure.

The person who established the villa was Hwang Yun-myeong (1844?1916), who served as an internal official during King Gojong’s reign. The main evidence was the posthumous collection of his poetry and writings, ‘Chunpa Yugo (春坡遺稿),’ compiled and published by his great-grandson An Ho-young. The poem ‘Insu Wisoj (引水爲小池)’ included in the collection matched the inscriptions on Yeongbyeokji within Seongnakwon. The ‘Chongswaerok (叢?錄),’ a diary-style record of the site maintained by manager Oh Hoeng-muk, also supported this. It was recorded that the villa established by Hwang Yun-myeong was visited in 1887.

The Cultural Heritage Administration also confirmed that Empress Myeongseong used Hwang Yun-myeong’s villa as a refuge during the Gapsin Coup (1884) through the preface written by Kim Gyu-bok of Ilpyeondanchung (一片丹忠) and the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty. Ilpyeondanchung was directly written and distributed by Empress Myeongseong to Kim Gyu-bok, Hwang Yun-myeong, and others after the Gapsin Coup. The preface by Kim Gyu-bok includes records such as ‘Went out through Hyehwa Gate and headed to Hwang Yun-myeong’s house in Seongbuk-dong,’ and ‘The Empress Dowager, Queen, and Crown Prince were already staying at the royal residence.’

Last month, the Cultural Heritage Administration re-investigated the newly revealed historical, scenic, and academic values as a scenic site. As a result, it was found that the natural stream, terrain, and rocks harmonize well, reflecting the unique aesthetics of traditional Korean gardens. However, it was judged that some parts of the original form restoration are insufficient and require continuous supplementation.

The Cultural Heritage Administration will collect opinions from various sectors for a month and finalize the revocation and redesignation of the scenic site after deliberation. Additionally, it plans to re-examine the historicity and designation criteria of the twenty-two already designated villas.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.