Goheung Yeosansong Clan Ssangchung Jeongryeogak, Designated as a 'National Treasure' Notice

Memorial Shrine of Double Loyalty Honoring Father and Son Generals Song Daerip and Song Sim, Heroes of the Imjin War and the Byeongjahoran War

[Goheung=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shim Jeong-woo] Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Gong Young-min) announced on the 29th that the ‘Goheung Yeosan Song Clan Ssangchung Jeongryeogak’ has been preliminarily designated as a national treasure.

The ‘Goheung Yeosan Song Clan Ssangchung Jeongryeogak,’ which the Cultural Heritage Administration has preliminarily designated as a national treasure this time, is located in Maseo Village, Maryun-ri, Donggang-myeon, Goheung-gun. After a 30-day preliminary announcement period, it will be confirmed as a ‘Treasure (寶物)’ following a review by the Cultural Heritage Committee of the Cultural Heritage Administration.

The Goheung Yeosan Song Clan Ssangchung Jeongryeogak is a Jeongrye (a memorial arch) issued in 1704 (the 30th year of King Sukjong’s reign) to honor the loyalty of Song Dae-rip (宋大立, 1550?1598) of the Yeosan Song clan and his son Song Sim (宋諶, 1590?1637).

This Jeongryeogak has a hipped-and-gabled roof with three bays in the front and two bays on the side. Inside, there are two Jeongrye plaques issued in 1704 and four Jeongrye restoration records. It uses the rare dapo-style and ikgong-style bracket system in Jeongrye architecture, giving it a very splendid appearance and earning it recognition as a representative example of Jeongrye architecture.

Jeongryeogak can only be built by the order of the state, and the order is a document issued by the country to honor loyal subjects, filial sons, and virtuous women by inscribing their names or official titles. The Jeongrye received by the Yeosan Song father and son during King Sukjong’s reign in Joseon is called Ssangchung (Double Loyalty), honoring loyal subjects.

Song Dae-rip was a descendant of Song Gan (忠剛公, Chungganggong), and during the Imjin War, he served under General Kwon Yul. In 1597, he served as a military officer under Admiral Yi Sun-sin and frequently appears in the War Diary of Yi Sun-sin.

In particular, a report submitted by Heungyang County Magistrate Choi Hee-ryang to Admiral Yi Sun-sin and Jeolla Governor Hwang Sin during the Imjin War states that “On March 23, 1598, in the Battle of Cheomsan (located in Donggang-myeon, Goheung-gun), Song Dae-rip achieved military merit.”

Song Sim passed the military examination in 1614, and in 1635, he concurrently served as Hongwon County Magistrate of Hamgyeong Province and Commander of Hamheung Jin-gwan Byeongma Jeolje-do. He died in battle during the Byeongjahoran (Second Manchu invasion) in 1637 at the Namsan Station battle in Anbyeon, Hamgyeong Province.

In 1704, Song Sim was posthumously promoted to Tongjeong Daebu, Left Vice Minister of the State Council, and Gyeongyeon Chamchan-gwan.

A Goheung-gun official stated, “Goheung played a major role as a key part of the Joseon navy during the Imjin and Jeongyu Wars, leading Admiral Yi Sun-sin to victory,” and added, “We will continue efforts to highlight the achievements of historical figures from Goheung.”

Meanwhile, the Goheung Song Clan Ssangchung Jeongrye has been designated and managed as Jeollanam-do Monument No. 110 since June 1, 1987.

Goheung=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shim Jeong-woo hss79@asiae.co.kr

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