Incheon(Ganghwa-gun)
, Ganghwado Island
Daemyeongheon House is a modern hanok building integrating elements of European architecture. Its interior features design that cannot be found in traditional hanok, such as English herringbone-style floorboards and stained glasses. The kitchen has a well-preserved domestic furnace and items in the style of 1930s, exemplifying the unique atmosphere of this modern hanok. Daemyeongheon is also famous for its connection to Kim Gu (pen-name: Baekbeom), a prominent independence activist: When Kim fled to Ganghwado Island about a hundred years ago, Daemyeongheon was the place he stayed for about three months, and also a place where he presided over a village school. Traces of Kim’s stay can still be found in the building.
Daemyeongheon House is made up of three buildings of the main building, a detached building, and an annex. The area that the guests stay in is the annex. The annex has three rooms, a central wooden-floored hall (daecheong), raised floor (numaru), balcony (jjongmaru), and kitchen. The restroom, which is also fitted with a shower booth, is located outside the building. Since reservations are offered to only one group per day, visitors have the house to themselves during their stay. Because of the building’s unique characteristics, guests are prohibited from cooking indoors; instead, guests are provided with a complimentary breakfast, such as bread, tea, coffee, and fruit.
Paid programs on site include tea ceremony, azalea craft on traditional Korean paper, retro-style clothing rental, and photography. Guided tours are offered twice per day at 14:00 and 16:00. The tour takes about 0.5–1 hr and requires a fee of KRW 10,000 (including tea). However, visitors should check the date before their visit, as the guided tour is not available when there are any guests staying in the house.
