On November 5th at 9:55 PM, the episode ‘Architectural Exploration House – I Renovated the Old House I Grew Up in’ will be broadcast on EBS1.
A project to restore memories of a wife who returned to her 120-year-old hometown.
Kang Seong-cheol and Jeong Yun-sook live in Boseong, Jeollanam-do. The reason why an old couple in their 70s returned to Galma Village, the wife’s hometown, was to revive their ruined hometown house. Even though my wife left home at the age of twelve and continued to live abroad until she was seventy, there was a part of her heart that she missed about her hometown. However, his wife, Jeong Yoon-sook, heard that the hometown house, which had been passed down from generation to generation from her father to her brother and from her brother to her nephew, was eventually sold to someone else. They couldn’t pass on their old house full of memories like this, so they spent a lot of money to buy it back, but their hometown house, which was over 100 years old, was in ruins. The owner and his wife wondered, ‘Can we really fix this and live in it?’ I was worried…
“If your hometown disappears, it’s the same as losing your hometown.”
His wife, Jeong Yun-sook, thought she had no choice but to destroy the ruined house. However, I wanted to restore as much as possible the hometown house that contained my wife’s childhood memories. Moreover, the fact that my father kept appearing in my dreams seemed to mean that I needed to fix my house, so I decided to remodel. My wife felt her heart be filled as she made a stone wall by putting the roof in the shape of tiles, like the tiled house that her grandfather first built, and stacking the stones that came from the collapse of the old house by hand. Just like a house where childhood memories come to life, a sense of peace that had been forgotten blooms in my wife’s heart, adding happiness to her daily life.
Even in homes that are over 100 years old, the yard is where the most memories remain. The hackberry tree where my father used to swing and the well where my mother used to carry paper and do laundry. Is this all? Just looking at the yard, which still retains the memories of the traditional wedding day when the husband took off his mother-in-law, brings a smile to the faces of the owner and his wife. Another characteristic of this house is that, compared to the outside, which retains the feel of an old house, the inside has been renovated to focus on convenience for the elderly couple’s life. To compensate for the shortcomings of Hanok, which is weak against cold, the walls were added more than 20cm to the existing walls and the cypress ceiling with insulation material keeps the couple warm in the winter. It shows the love of the wife who wanted to save her hometown house as much as possible, even though it was convenient to repair the rafter ceiling of the wooden room that was preserved as it was because it did not rot.
“As I get older, my childhood memories become more vivid.”
My wife, Jeong Yun-sook, still vividly remembers memories from her hometown. The reason I decided to revive the house, which had been neglected for a long time and was in disrepair, was because of the precious memories I had here. In response, her husband, Kang Seong-cheol, called himself his wife’s worker, saying, ‘It’s like home to me as well.’ The husband said that remodeling his wife’s hometown house gave him new energy in his mid-70s. We meet an old hometown house that became a treasure and opened a new beginning for an elderly couple.
A newly built memory house on the site of a house that has not been left for 40 years.
Sim Dong-seok and Jeon So-yeon couple live in Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do. The couple, who are natives of Chungju, have never left this neighborhood since their school days, newlywed life, and now in their mid-40s. In particular, my husband, Dong-seok Shim, moved into the house he moved to when he was 7 years old, graduated from elementary school, middle school, and college, and has lived with his mother ever since he got married. In an age where people move every two years, what is the story of the owner and his wife who stay in the same place?
“I think I hear my mother coughing, and I feel like she’s calling my name.”
Jeon So-yeon, a wife, had a good relationship with her mother-in-law, whom she had known since she was 20, and did not mind living at her husband’s house even after marriage. She was so affectionate that she bought the back land needed to build a new house without her husband knowing. In fact, the reason I didn’t leave home even after marriage was because of my mother’s illness. The wife’s love added to the husband’s heart that he could not leave his sick mother behind, and he was able to keep a home full of memories.
The owner and his wife ended up building a new house after the house they lived in for a long time began to tilt. My husband wanted to build a house modeled after the Hanok house he lived in as a child. I had fond memories of playing with adults in the Sarangchae yard, so I created a yard connected to the master bedroom. The porch, modeled after a numaru, becomes a hideout just for the couple, where the husband reads a book and the wife tends to the plants. In addition, the husband’s know-how, who has lived only here, can be seen in the large pantry between the living room and the entrance and the powder room in front of the entrance. The couple’s affection for the neighborhood is evident in the simple house they built to fit in with the neighborhood without being greedy.
“It seems like people live on memories for the rest of their lives.”
My husband, Dong-Seok Shim, says that the narrow alleys and houses here and there are full of memories from his childhood. While building a new house, I wanted to keep the memories of the house I lived in all my life. The trees that were planted when my mother was discharged from the hospital and the trees that were planted when the children were born were each divided and transplanted to the current yard. Meaningful trees and precious memories are brought back to a heart-warming home.
Economy Queen Reporter Park Yu-mi Photo = EBS Architectural Exploration House
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Time.news Editor: Welcome to our interview today! We’re here with expert in architectural restoration and cultural heritage, Dr. Lee Min-ho. Dr. Lee, thank you for joining us.
Dr. Lee Min-ho: Thank you for having me! It’s a pleasure to discuss the crucial interplay between architecture and personal history.
Editor: Recently, there was a touching story about Kang Seong-cheol and Jeong Yun-sook, an elderly couple who returned to renovate Jeong Yun-sook’s childhood home after it had fallen into ruin. What does their story tell us about the importance of historical homes in personal narratives?
Dr. Lee: Their story is a beautiful example of how homes are more than just physical structures; they are repositories of memories and identity. For Jeong Yun-sook, the return to her childhood home was about reconnecting with her roots, preserving her family’s history, and ensuring that her memories didn’t get lost. This is a common thread in many restoration projects, where emotional ties drive the need to preserve rather than demolish.
Editor: That’s a profound insight. Jeong Yun-sook mentioned that the memories of her father and the significance of the home compelled her to undertake the renovation despite the decay. How do memories influence the architectural preservation process?
Dr. Lee: Memories are a significant motivator in architectural preservation, especially for individuals like Jeong Yun-sook, who have a lifelong emotional investment in those places. When you have a deep personal connection to a space, it influences not just the emotional driving force behind the renovation but also the choices made during restoration. For example, the stone wall and tiled roof were not just aesthetic choices; they were also symbolic acts of honoring her grandfather’s legacy.
Editor: It’s interesting you mention symbolism. In the case of Kang Seong-cheol, he viewed the house as a way to keep his wife’s memories alive. This seems to speak to the broader human experience of nostalgia in architecture.
Dr. Lee: Absolutely, nostalgia plays a vital role in the architectural landscape. It shapes how communities perceive their built environment and encourage preservation. In many cultures, the physical remnants of a past life—even dilapidated structures—can evoke feelings of belonging and continuity. This sense of nostalgia not only motivates restoration but also fosters community engagement, as others may share similar histories and memories tied to those places.
Editor: Another couple, Sim Dong-seok and Jeon So-yeon, chose to renovate a home rooted in lifelong memories. Jeon So-yeon even bought land to build a new house behind her husband’s familial home. What does this reveal about modern relationships to space and place?
Dr. Lee: It highlights a fascinating shift in how people relate to space today. Their decision to renovate rather than relocate indicates a desire to blend old and new—creating comfort within familiarity. The home became a living monument to their journey together, where the past informs their present and future. This kind of renovation underscores the idea that you don’t have to abandon your heritage as life evolves; instead, you can adapt it to continue those familial bonds.
Editor: These stories evoke a sense of community and continuity, yet also highlight personal resilience. Given the significance of these renovations, how can communities better support similar efforts?
Dr. Lee: Communities can play a crucial role by providing resources, creating networks of support, and fostering awareness about the value of heritage architecture. Encouraging local policies that prioritize preservation, offering grants for restoration, and organizing workshops can empower individuals and families to undertake similar projects. Ultimately, it’s about creating a culture that values the past while making it relevant for future generations.
Editor: Dr. Lee, thank you for sharing your insights today. It’s inspiring to see how personal histories can shape the architectural landscape, and your expertise sheds light on the importance of preserving these narratives.
Dr. Lee: Thank you! It was a pleasure discussing these meaningful stories. The connection between memory and architecture is indeed a rich area for exploration.