Ancient Korean Homes, the Residence of the Jeong Family

Hamyang county in South Gyeongsang Province, is the hometown of the old elite yangban class.

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It lies near Mt. Jiri, and is famous for Yongchu Valley.

This is Gaepyeong Village, home to the hanok village of Hamyang. The area, which is where the Hadong Jeong clan live together, is filled with hanok.

And among the hanok, a gotaek, or ancient Korean house, stands out.

We are greeted at the door by a sign filled with engraved characters.

[Interview : Jeong Mun-sang, 16th-generation descendant of the Jeong family] "This is called a "myeongjeong", and it was awarded by the king. It's similar to a medal or badge of honor today".

Ildu Jeong Yeo-chang was a government official in the time of King Seongjong and King Yeonsangun.

His home is such a well-preserved representation of traditional Southern yangban culture that it was used as the set for the TV drama "Toji, the Land".

[Interview : Jeong Mun-sang, 16th-generation descendant of the Jeong family] "The Hadong Jeong house was built at the end of the Goryeo Dynasty by Ji Yi, who sought out the best land. It has a history of 600 years, and the room you see here was completed in 1823 after many modifications".

Even after hundreds of years, it retains the simple beauty of Korea's traditional hanok homes.

[Interview : ] "This was written by a visitor to the house to wish the owner a hundred years of clean and righteous life".

Today it is being maintained as a cultural property rather than a residential home. There are traces of the Koreans' ancestors' life throughout the house.

The room that was most recently renovated was the sarangchae, where the head of the household took care of his daily affairs.

[Interview : ] "This room is about 170 years old. It's a small house, but it is considered one of Korea's 10 most beautiful buildings".

The clan house of the Hadong Jeong family is near the home of Ildu Jeong Yeo-chang. This house is 350 years old, and is inhabited by Jeong Cheon-sang and Park Heung-seon, the 16th-generation descendants of Jeong Yeo-chang.

[Interview : Jeong Cheon-sang, 16th-generation descendant of the Jeong family] "The house is about 350 years old, and I am the 16th-generation descendant of Ildu Jeong Yeo-chang".

The Hadong Jeongs have been creating a home-brewed liquor called solsongju, or pine liquor, for 500 years. About 30 years ago, Park Heung-seon learned to make this precious wine.

[Interview : Park Heung-seon, 16th-generation wife of the Jeong family] "I'm making the base for a traditional Korean wine, called "jumo". This is what wine is made with. I learned this from my mother-in-law when I got married, and she learned it from her mother-in-law. It's been passed down through the generations".

Once the base is ready, the rice is prepared for the wine. Each ingredient for the pine liquor requires the utmost care.

The basic step to making pine liquor is mixing the sticky rice with the liquor base.

[Interview : ] "The rice is made just right for making wine if it bounces off like this".

Next, it is time to gather the most important ingredient of pine liquor, the pine needles. This village has always used its abundant pine needles for its wine. The pine, green throughout the year, is considered to be a symbol of the scholar's spirit.

[Interview : ] "We can use pine needles that grow in autumn, but the fresh needles in the spring are more fragrant".

Each pine needle must be prepared by hand, but the effort is well rewarded by the liquor's deep taste.

The base is fermented for three days.

Then, the sticky rice and boiled pine needles are added.

The mixture is fermented for another 20 days, then poured through a sieve and once more through thin paper to produce clear wine.

[Interview : ] "This is pine liquor with 13% alcohol. Running it through a distiller will make it a stronger pine liquor, with 40% alcohol".

This pine liquor can be distilled once more through a sojugori to produce a stronger pine liquor, with over 40% alcohol.

The strong liquor drips into the jar, drop by drop.

[Interview : Park Heung-seon, Pine liquor brewer] "It's a beverage that requires much care and effort, and makes the heart pure".

The Jeongs have company today.

They serve their guests their best pine liquor.

How does it feel to drink pine liquor of 500 years' tradition in a home of 350 years' history[Interview : Song Hyeon-woo, Gaepyeong Village resident] "Sitting in an old hanok drinking pine liquor from the Joseon Dynasty makes me feel like I am a scholar from that period".

The side dishes brought out with the pine liquor make the drink's taste deeper and richer.

[Interview : ] "In the winter, there are icicles hanging off the roof. It's a beautiful sight you can only find in hanok. It makes me feel fortunate to be able to live in hanok".

The following day.

The hanok here bustle with life once again.

[Interview : Jeong Cheon-sang, 16th-generation descendant of the Jeong family] "This is my home, where I grew up. A home is a place of memory. I want to preserve my home and pass it down to my descendants as well".

Although they may be inconvenient to live compared to modern apartments, hanok have a majesty and dignity that is hard to find elsewhere. The houses will only continue their tradition as the years go by.

[STUDIO]

Staying in one place sure seems to help you keep track of your family.
These days many families are spread out and after a few generations you lose touch with the more extended relatives.
I've always wondered what life was like in a village like that.
And it's great to know that the tradition continues.