Wolgang Gotaek (The Old House of Choi Clan)(월강고택(최씨고가))[한국관광품질인증/Korea Quality]

'Located at the entrance to Jirisan Mountain in Namsa-ri, Sancheong County and blessed with a beautiful natural environment, Namsa Yedamchon Village, along with Andong Hahoe Village, is the representative village of traditional hanok (traditional Korean houses) in Gyeongsang-do Province and is regarded as one of the most beautiful villages in Korea. The village is well-known for its 3.2km-long low stone wall, and the name 'Namsa Yedamchon' implies 'a village with old walls' in the hope that we emulate classical scholars’ spirit and courtesy. The Old Walls of Namsa Village were designated as Registered Cultural Heritage No. 281. Along with the old walls, a total of nine cultural heritages were designated as national treasures or cultural properties including the House of the Choi Clan (Gyeongnam’s Cultural Property Material No. 117) and the House of the Yi Clan (Gyeongnam’s Cultural Property Material No. 118). Namsa Yedamchon Village was also selected as a Rural Traditional Theme Village, operating various programs related to traditional learning experiences including farming, traditional games, trip to old houses, and seodang (village school) experience. As a typical noble family’s house in the southern area, Wolgang gotaek (the House of the Choi Clan) is situated in the middle of Namsa Yedamchon Village. This outstanding hanok house offers many charms including a beautiful wall stretching from the public parking lot to the house, a tall gate with exceptional x_height, and 230-year-old Japanese apricot tree as well as its large size and splendid features. Its head family of the house is the Maesa House of Jeonju Choi’s Clan in Hangnim-ri, Goseong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, and they have lived in the area since their great-great-grandfather. As for the house buildings, the Anchae (women’s quarters) was built in 1920; the Sarangchae (men’s quarters) was completed in 1921, the Byeolchae (detached house) named 'Iknangchae,' the Gwangchae (storage), and the barn were built during the same period. The buildings are arranged in 'ㅁ'-shaped structure – the Anchae at the center with the Sarangchae, the Iknangchae, and the Gwangchae. There are two inner gates on the right and left to the Sarangchae. The Anchae and the Iknangchae cannot be seen from the west inner gate, according to the Confucian idea about separate spaces for men and women. The Anchae with 6 kan (a unit of measurement referring to the distance between two columns) in front and 3 kan on the sides has toenmaru (the narrow wooden porch running along the outside of the building) in front and on the rear side, semi-hipped roof, and high ceiling. The Anchae is composed of kitchen, main room, small room, daecheong (main floored room), and another small room, which retains its refined design of the door. The Sarangchae with 5 kan in front and 3 kan on the sides is a house with several wings and a semi-hipped roof. It is composed of two rooms, daecheong, another two rooms, and a room with wooden floor. The Sarangchae is characterized by its round pillars. Facing the east, the iknangchae with 4 kan in front and 2 kan on the sides consists of daecheong, room with ondol (Korean heating system), and storage space for food materials. Wolgang gotaek was chosen as a Korea Noble House in 2014. The owner is planning to expand the accommodations by building two rooms in the Sarangchae and a separate room in the Iknangchae for the convenience of guests. It is set to modernize various facilities including toilets, TV, air conditioner, wireless Internet, and kitchen equipment as well as provide diverse hands-on programs such as tea ceremony and traditional games. The owner aims to offer guests an opportunity to enjoy staying in an old hanok house with a comfortable environment by preserving the beauty of old hanok and its tradition without damaging the house with various activities.