Gwangajeong House in Yangdong, Gyeongju

Gwangajeong House, built in 1514, was the residence of Son Jung-don (1463-1529), a civil official and a calligrapher of the early Joseon period.

Son Jung-don passed the state examination in 1489 and served in various government posts. In 1515, he was bestowed with the honorable title of Pure and Untarnished Official (Cheongbaengni) in recognition of his integrity and virtue. Two years later, he visited Ming China as a royal envoy. He is enshrined in Donggangseowon Confucian Academy in Gyeongju and Soksuseowon Confucian Academy in Sangju.

The house consists of a women’s quarters, men’s quarters, and a servants’ quarters. There is a shrine behind the women’s quarters.

The elevated wooden-floored porch of the men’s quarters features a plaque which reads “Gwangajeong (觀稼亭),” meaning “a pavilion to see grains growing.” The house was named as such because the area in front of this house was originally wide and open such that the Son family could enjoy seeing the picturesque view of the field and river. The current walls surrounding the house were built in 1981.

Source: Korea Heritage Service signboard ↗ · collected 2026-10-08