Handari Village was named after the Handari Kim clan, more widely known as the Gyeongju Kim clan. The Gyeongju Kim clan in Seosan settled here and grew into one of the area’s most influential families, producing numerous high-rank government officials and patriotic figures. “Chusa” Kim Jeonghui was a descendant from the Gyeongju Kim clan and was known to have written the signboards that are displayed in the house’s sarangchae or men’s quarters.

A unique architectural characteristic of Gyeam House is its long-stretched awning on the tip of the eaves, which blocks sunlight and heat and helps preserve the books in sarangchae.

Birthplace of Queen Jeongsun, Old Neighbor of Gyeam House

Queen Jeongsun, consort of King Yeongjo, who was 51 years older than her, was born in this house. The house was also the birthplace of Baengrim Kim Yong-hwan, an independence fighter, during the Japanese colonial rule (1910-1945)

Location | 45 Handari-gil, Eumam-myeon, Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
Foundation | mid-1800s
Purpose | Residence

Yu Gi-bang House, which was built during the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945), stands against a backdrop of a hill abundant with pine trees and is surrounded by an earthen wall topped with tiles.

The site of the house was originally resided by descendants of the fourth son of King Jeongjong 400 years ago. Then, Yu Gi-bang’s grandfather rebuilt the house 100 years ago and began living there. The house has been handed down for the four generations.
The house is now a major destination for travelers who want to see yellow daffodils blooming around the building in spring.

Location | 72-10 Imunan-gil, Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
Foundation | Early 1900s
Purpose | Residence

Yu Sang-muk, a descendant of the Seoryeong Yu clan, moved his house to the current site in Yeomiri, after making his own fortune. He is also a cousin of Yu Gi-bang.

The house was built in 1925 and is unique in style for a house built during the Japanese colonial rule (1910-1945) in that it was modeled after Unhyeongung Palace in Seoul. Unlike the traditional Korean “hanok,” the house uses glass doors. It also has a small Japanese-style garden. However, the layout of the house follows the strict principles of Confucianism. The sarangchae or men’s quarters and anchae or women’s quarters are divided by a wall and the quarters each have separate gates.

Another unique feature of the house is an arched earthen wall located in the rear.

Astronomer Yu Bang-taek, Ancestor of Yu Sang-muk

Yu Sang-muk was a descendant of “Geumheon” Yu Bang-taek. Yu Bang-taek was a prominent astronomer and government official during the Goryeo Dynasty (918- 1392). When Goryeo collapsed and the Joseon Dynasty was founded, Yu returned home and lived in seclusion, demonstrating his loyalty to Goryeo. But when King Taejo of Joseon ordered the creation of an astronomical chart to symbolize the mandate of heaven for the new dynasty, Yu couldn’t resist. He made an astronomical chart named Celestial Chart Stone, which was designated as the National Treasure No. 228.

Location | 32-12 Imunan-gil, Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
Foundation | 1925 (Japanese Colonial Rule)
Purpose | Residence