The Andong Haknam historic manor in Andong / Courtesy of the Korea Heritage Service
In a quiet village nestled within the heart of North Gyeongsang Province, a centuries-old residence has been elevated to the status of a National Folklore Cultural Heritage, marking a new chapter for one of the region’s most storied architectural and intellectual lineages.
The National Heritage Administration said Wednesday that it designated Haknam Gotaek, a historic manor in Andong, as a protected national treasure. Simultaneously, the agency issued an advance notice of designation for "Musindo" (shamanic paintings) of Geumseongdang, a rare collection of 19th-century religious art currently housed at the Eunpyeong History and Hanok Museum in Seoul.
The Haknam Gotaek sits within Omi Village, a historic enclave of the Pungsan Kim clan. The estate’s evolution reflects the architectural transition of the 1392-1910 Joseon period: its inner quarters were built in 1759 by Kim Sang-mok, followed nearly 70 years later by a grandson, Kim Jung-woo, who added the men’s quarters and servants' wing. Unlike the typical fully enclosed square layouts of the region, the manor maintains a distinct "open square" form, where the structures are physically separated — a design choice that heritage officials say holds significant architectural value.
The site is more than a structural relic. It is a repository of the Korean scholar-gentry culture. Over 10,000 artifacts, including paintings and diaries, have been preserved and entrusted to the Korean Studies Institute. These documents provide an intimate look at the shifting social fabric of 19th-century Andong.
Most notably, the manor was a cradle of resistance. The clan produced prominent independence activists, including Kim Eung-seop, who served as a justice minister for the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea during Japan's 1910-45 colonial occupation of Korea.
In Seoul, the newly recognized shamanic paintings represent a rare intersection of folk belief and high art. Produced in the late 19th century, "Musindo" were originally enshrined at Geumseongdang, a ritual house dedicated to the mountain god of Naju and Prince Geumseong.
Art historians noted that the paintings exhibit a sophistication rarely seen in folk art, featuring rounded facial forms and nuanced shading that suggest they were likely executed by professional monk-painters. The administration plans to work with local governments to ensure these sites and artifacts are integrated into the nation’s historical tourism landscape.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
Source: Korea Times News
