Lee Hoe-yeong Memorial Hall Moves from Namsan Yejang Area to Sajik-dong... 'Citizen's Friend House' Renovated

Missionaries' Western-style House 'Mukeunjip' Relocation
Reconstructing 'Tradition-Modernity' in New Space on 17th Next Month

The Lee Hoe-young Memorial Hall, which honors Lee Hoe-young and his comrades who risked their lives and property for the independence movement, is reopening at the old missionary house 'Mukeun Jip' in Sajik-dong, Jongno-gu. This is a measure to prepare a lower station for the 'Namsan Gondola' project promoted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

According to Seoul City on the 23rd, the Lee Hoe-young Memorial Hall will close operations on this day and relocate to Mukeun Jip. The old missionary house to which the memorial hall is moving is a Western-style house built on the hill of Sajik-dong in the early 20th century, where missionaries dispatched by the United Methodist Church of America lived in Joseon. Mukeun Jip in Sajik-dong (basement to 2nd floor, approximately 311㎡), which possesses the unique aesthetics and value of modern architecture, was designated as an excellent architectural asset by Seoul City in 2019.

Exterior view of an old house in Sajik-dong.
[Photo by Seoul City]

Prior to the relocation, on the 10th, a talk concert titled "Friends Are Coming - Stories of Independence Fighters" was held to commemorate the 3rd anniversary of the Lee Hoe-young Memorial Hall and the 113th anniversary of the founding of the Shinheung Military Academy. The event was hosted by Seo Hae-sung, director of the Lee Hoe-young Memorial Hall, and featured storytellers including Olga Kim, great-granddaughter of General Kim Kyung-cheon, known as 'General Kim on a White Horse' and instructor at Shinheung Military Academy; Jeong Cheol-seung, grandson of Yoon Ki-seop, principal of Shinheung Military Academy; and Lee Jong-geol, grandson of Lee Hoe-young and director of the memorial hall. They shared stories about the daily lives of independence activists and their families.

Seo Hae-sung, who planned the relocation and the 3rd anniversary event, explained, "The Lee Hoe-young Memorial Hall, which is establishing a new home at Mukeun Jip in Sajik-dong, will be a 'Friend House' where tradition and modernity, independence movement and the present meet and are reconfigured to engage citizens in a new form." The memorial hall plans to hold a special exhibition once renovations are complete. Visits to the new memorial hall will be possible from July 17, and detailed information can be found on the Lee Hoe-young Memorial Hall website.

Lee Jong-geol, director of the Lee Hoe-young Memorial Hall, said, "In the yard of the new memorial hall, a zelkova tree over 200 years old and another over 100 years old stand side by side, symbolizing a return to the 'Ssanghoijeong' where Lee Hoe-young decided to fight for the liberation of the homeland." He added, "We will prepare programs that citizens can enjoy and participate in at this new space."

Kim Seung-won, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Balanced Development Headquarters, also stated, "The reopening of Mukeun Jip in Sajik-dong as a 'Citizen Friend House' honors the life of Lee Hoe-young, who lived a life in line with the names of many independence activists." He added, "We hope citizens' interest and visits will continue to add value to this beautiful house."

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