Reconsidering The Heritage Value - Challenging Authenticity and Integrity - Three Cases at The Time of Urban Redevelopment in Seoul

Abstract

This paper examines three historic houses in central Seoul that faced demolition during urban redevelopment. As rapid urbanization reshaped the city, some of these houses were relocated and designated as heritage sites, while others were demolished without regard for their historical value, even before cultural heritage designation. The three case studies are as follows; Trilogy-1; The Historic House of Yi Seung-eop, a master carpenter employed by Regent Daewon-gun (1820–1898, r. 1863–1873), highlights the use of anastylosis as a method to preserve heritage architecture; Trilogy-2; The Residence of Han Gyu-seol explores the relocation of heritage architecture, focusing on documentation, intervention, and adaptive reuse as preservation strategies; Trilogy-3; The study of Shinmun-gwan and Joseon Gwangmun-hoe addresses the reconstruction of historic architecture as both a critique of the past and a way to rediscover its cultural merits. The three main areas of focus in this study are; Reviewing the history of these houses and the challenges they faced at the brink of demolition during urban redevelopment; Exploring the processes involved in relocating, documenting, intervening, and adaptively reusing these structures; Reconsidering heritage value by examining techniques such as anastylosis, dismantling, reassembling, and the intangible heritage of carpentry from the late Joseon Dynasty. The study also reflects on rebuilding to restore historical authenticity and integrity.