Choi, a wife of kilburn who is a keeper of Bukchon, is telling a story that happened while she was caring and preserving Korean traditionl house at the floor of Korean verandah of Gahoidong, Jongno-Gu, Seoul.
Gahoi-Dong 31-79, Jongno-Gu, Seoul. There is a cozy Korean traditional house which English David Kilburn(66) and Korean Choi Keumok(최금옥) have lived for more than 20 years in the middle of Bukchon Korean traditional house village(북촌한옥마을).
Kilburn came to Korea in 1988, 20 years ago, and was fascinated by this house at the first sight. His wife Choi said “He bought this house as if he had bought a chocolate” and “David has loved spirit of Bukchon(북촌) and Korean traditional house itself where has remained 600 years history of Joseon(조선) and has survived through adversity of Korean modern history” He volunteered as a keeper of Korean traditional house. He used to write in Japanese magazine to advertise Korean traditional house. He also wrote an advertising writing in English in his blog. He invited foreign guests to show them beauty of Korean traditional house. He had centered Korean traditional house and Korean traditional culture in his daily life, coming and going from Seoul to Japan as a freelancer reporter and a marketing consultant.
In 2002, however, as ‘A master plan for caring Bukchon’ enforced, Kilburn and Choi’s life had entirely changed. Once developers started to buy houses, housing prices went up sharply. They also started to remodel Korean traditional house into fake one. Houses that 1st floor was built by concrete, and put a roofling tile on only 2nd floor to use commercially had came being. Now, roofs of Korean traditional house in Bukchon village can't breathe, due to dig in the ground and pour concrete instead of soil under roofing tile. Current Bukchon Village has became ‘Ghost Village’, because there was no resident. We can’t smell make rice at night.
Kilburn couldn’t stand anymore that Bukchon was getting destroyed. He met staff of Seoul and Jongno-Gu and claimed that we should set up a standard for Korean traditional house and make a regulation of extension and remodeling of a building to preserve a original form.
In 2005, he sued Seoul mayor who permitted to build illegally, but he lost suit. Seoul just suggested Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affais make new law. Still, there is no provision to preserve Korean traditional house.
It reported that he like to say “English Government visits and invests old houses which has been more than 100-200 years, and when people want to remove, change and exten it, they will be punished if they observe the rules.”
Kilburn and Choi met misfortune. In February 2006, a poclain came into front house. While he was trying to take pictures of that cruel situation, a developer pushed him and then he fell down. He was given diagnosis of a cardioplegia, and lost his sight after 10 months later.
Last year, it has been 2 years since Kilburn lost his sight, his wife Choi was given diagnosis of an uterine cervical cancer. Choi said “It may be stubborn, we felt sorry that Korean traditional house disappeared, so we tried to hold back it, but we only got diseases.”, and “It is a nation without awareness of tradition and respect for human rights.”
As story of Kilburn and Choi is known to netizens, the number of daily vistors of his blog, Gahoidong.com,(www.kahoidong.com) become over 200. He currently stays in Japan to a medical treatment. When he heard this news, his eye became moisten. Kilburn who can’t see loved Korean traditional house anymore said “ I’m happy because people pay attension to Korean traditional house that nobody cares in the past.”
*Bukchon(북촌) means upperside of Jongno.
This is a great story. I also think it is a shame that people are in such a hurry to get rid of these classic homes. The government should not only protect them, but should encourage ownership and upkeep of them. The government is always trying to improve Seoul's image around the world and make it a place for tourists. These are one aspect of Korea that people would love to see (even stay at instead of hotels).
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think? I didn't hear your opinions in the post.
Dan
I agree with you. The government "should" not only protect them, but also should encourage ownership and maintenance of them.
ReplyDeleteEven though it takes very long time to protect real traditional houses, the government should spend much time instead of making fake traditional houses. It is more worth to do. I think remodeling of classic homes in the modern way is not only destroy history, but not really protection.
Actually, one of my dreams is living in Korean traditional house!, I want to live in a real one, not a fake!.
Kyungsuk
Right. There should be some benefits of restoring Hanok (not just letting them rot). Tax benefits that really make a difference.
ReplyDeleteOne problem is that owners feel like they can't sell them for what they are worth because the government does limit what can be done to the houses and the land. Make it easier for people to sell to groups that will restore and utilize the homes as homes or businesses.
Another problem is the cost of repairs. Again, offset these costs with tax breaks and government programs for low-cost loans and grants.
The ownership of a hanok has to be seen as a privilege and not a burden.
Dan