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In one of the alleys of the area where I live, there's a house dating back to the 1930s when Korea was under Japanese occupation. Houses like this one built at that time are called "적산가옥," which translates to "enemy house."
A friend lives in an apartment across the alley from this house, so I have relied on him to update me on its status. Recently workers came in and cut all the trees and bushes, and then started putting up a fence. Within a couple weeks, the house was knocked down. Not before we went inside and saw what had been left there.
1. Here's how it looks while they were clearing out the yard. It's two buildings connected by a covered walkway not visible from this angle. The house is a very Japanese style, not at all Korean.
2. Here's a closer view of the main house.
3. This is the front gate, which I previously considered impassable. Fortunately, as you can see by the temporary fence between it and the brick wall behind, it was no longer a concern for me getting in.
4. Looking in through the front door, the wallpaper sure is trippy.
5. The bookshelf has titles in English, Japanese, and Korean. I'm told some are quite valuable. Based on the prominent English title, I was prepared to think the former owner fit the profile of anti-communist pro-imperialist.
6. They kept quite a lot of newspaper clippings.
7. Here's the walkway between buildings. The entrance on the left actually goes to the stairs leading to the second floor, something that took a lot of effort to find.
8. This must have been the occupants.
9. There was just stuff to look through everywhere. In one room, I found a letter dating to 1951 written to the occupant, expressing relief he was so far surviving the war. It seems he sent his children to the US for safety.
10. One of the round windows.
11. Hidden behind the demolition blankets.
12. How to win friends.
13. I went up to the second floor, where the Japanese influence was much more apparent.
14. The floor was lined with tatami mats, which surprised my friends who know more about Japan.
15. An interesting architectural feature around back of the smaller house.
16. The top of the stairs.
17.
It's all gone now but we're researching the history and trying to find out more about the people who lived here.
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Were the owners Japanese?
Do you know the back story on them?
Those books... wow.
I always enjoy your house splores
And... in #5 what's with that light bulb?
It looks antique and what's on it's base?
[last edit 6/12/2019 5:52 PM by blackhawk - edited 1 times]
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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Really very cool, it's too bad it had to be demolished. I've always really appreciated the aesthetics of Japanese-style architecture, especially in its abandoned state (of course). I for one would definitely be interested in seeing what you can dig up regarding the former residents.
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Wow! Super cool. Especially the tatami mats area. Love the architecture and design. Super interesting.
RIP Blackhawk |
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Your DB entry of this place popped up on me random just yesterday! Quite the co-inky-dink... Cool to see the inside - also cool to see how houses are laid out on the other side of the marble. Thanks for sharing!
[last edit 6/12/2019 6:08 PM by Mr. Bitey - edited 1 times]
Give abandonment a reason for its sacrificial reclamation to nature. Love it. Remember it. Take a picture. Share it. Leave the decay to nature.
Lifetime member of The Anti-MyInstaTubeTweetFace consortium. |
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Such a great history lesson in there.
Awesome photos and great documentation. Can't wait to hear your follow up!
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Posted by blackhawk
Were the owners Japanese?
Do you know the back story on them?
Those books... wow.
I always enjoy your house splores
And... in #5 what's with that light bulb?
It looks antique and what's on it's base?
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The names we have so far are all Korean. For a period the occupant was receiving mail at a hotel in Japan, but still under a Korean name at that point. Despite the concept of these houses being Japanese, it was often Koreans living in them.
No clue about the lightbulb. I didn't look any closer, and on a second visit the whole shelf had been tossed.
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Posted by Steed
No clue about the lightbulb. I didn't look any closer, and on a second visit the whole shelf had been tossed.
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Looks like a radiograph judging by its base.
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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I REALLY, really enjoyed this Steed. Such a shame that places like this couldnt be converted into a newer residence while keeping the old charm and architecture. Love that entry-way gate and the walkway between buildings. So cool and unique. Thanks Much for sharing! 
A place of Mystery is Always worth a curiosity trip!
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Posted by MisUnderstood!
I REALLY, really enjoyed this Steed. Such a shame that places like this couldnt be converted into a newer residence while keeping the old charm and architecture. Love that entry-way gate and the walkway between buildings. So cool and unique. Thanks Much for sharing!
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The main reason places like this aren't saved is because they are seen as reminders of the 36-year occupation. Without knowing more about the residents, it is likely they had ties to the Japanese empire closer than accepted by modern-day Koreans, despite whatever they may have done after liberation.
I'm trying to think of an equivalent Americans can understand. Let's say back when Iraq was a US ally, they built statues of Saddam Hussein in every capital city. Even if they were really nice statues, almost all Americans would have been happy to see them removed sometime during the first Gulf War.
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Posted by Steed
The main reason places like this aren't saved is because they are seen as reminders of the 36-year occupation. Without knowing more about the residents, it is likely they had ties to the Japanese empire closer than accepted by modern-day Koreans, despite whatever they may have done after liberation.
I'm trying to think of an equivalent Americans can understand. Let's say back when Iraq was a US ally, they built statues of Saddam Hussein in every capital city. Even if they were really nice statues, almost all Americans would have been happy to see them removed sometime during the first Gulf War.
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Perfect illustration/example.
[last edit 6/13/2019 7:50 PM by MisUnderstood! - edited 1 times]
A place of Mystery is Always worth a curiosity trip!
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Posted by blackhawk
Looks like a radiograph judging by its base.
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I meant radiometer, not an X-ray
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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Its weird how something like that managed to stay up for so long. Id assume the local representatives would have demolished it the instant the occupation ended.
no god! please no! nooooooooooooo |
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Posted by 08j23
Its weird how something like that managed to stay up for so long. Id assume the local representatives would have demolished it the instant the occupation ended.
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A lot were demolished, but not quite immediately after liberation as they were extremely poor. The Korean War also removed a lot. There were a few politicised cases where buildings were removed because they represented Japanese imperialism, but in other cases similar buildings remained.
These days the attitude is more that it's better to remember history than to erase it. There are quite a lot of occupation-era buildings across Korea that are still in public use. And this neighbourhood, which is where I live, has a lot of Japanese-built structures, although this particular one was exceptional.
Here are a few examples:
This building received cultural heritage status and is now a cafe. The buildings to its right have been renovated so their facades match the Japanese machiya style.
This one was considered for similar heritage status but denied and demolished.
This is my neighbourhood, with the Enemy House to my back. All the houses with the sloped tiled roofs are Japanese in style, particularly the cluster in the lower left.
Old City Hall, converted into Seoul Metropolitan Library, with the tsunami-shaped new City Hall towering over it. It was saved shortly after demolition began.
Old Seoul Station was converted into an art venue around 2011. I got to do some exploring of it before it opened.
The Japanese government general building was built over demolished palace grounds, as sort of a geomantic fuck-you to Korea, so its demolition came in 1996. The palace is still in the process of being rebuilt. This is the only picture that's not mine, as I only saw it during demolition.
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Another great set Steed, thanks for sharing. I'm going to assume that the copy of "How To Win Friends and Influence People" was not the property of the original occupant.
[last edit 6/23/2019 11:46 AM by WEKurtz - edited 1 times]
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Posted by WEKurtz
Another great set Steed, thanks for sharing. I'm going to assume that the copy of "How To Win Friends and Influence People" was not the property of the original occupant.
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It could have been, as the first edition was published in 1936. And this guy probably would have wanted the help.
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This is my neighbourhood, with the Enemy House to my back. All the houses with the sloped tiled roofs are Japanese in style, particularly the cluster in the lower left.
http://www.daehanm...1enemyhouse/98.jpg
I can see your apartment.
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Posted by The Juge
This is my neighbourhood, with the Enemy House to my back. All the houses with the sloped tiled roofs are Japanese in style, particularly the cluster in the lower left.
http://www.daehanm...1enemyhouse/98.jpg
I can see your apartment.
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Yeah, didn't I suggest you have a look at this place when you were catsitting for me while I was in North Korea? It would have been much harder to get into back then though.
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Ethics
