Jakcheon Historic House was named after the scholar Jakcheon Yu-dogwan, who used to live here. Unfortunately, a portion of the house was swept away during a flood, leaving only the remaining straight-lined inner quarters.

What adds intrigue to this house is the low wall situated on one side of the courtyard. It’s strategically positioned between the outer quarters and the main room across from it. These walls, known as ‘Nae-oe-dam’ or ‘Hut-dam,’ served the purpose of maintaining a distance between the men and women.

During the Joseon Dynasty, Confucianism was the main value of the country. According to the Confucian philosophy, there are distinct roles for men and women, and they were expected to maintain separate spheres. Women were not to encounter male guests entering the house.

Therefore, a partition was installed between the guest room in the outer quarters and the main room in the inner quarters. Female members of the household would typically stay in the inner quarters, and the wall acted as a barrier to prevent their interaction with male guests.

Although these partitions are more commonly associated with tile-roofed houses, which were the dwellings of Joseon’s aristocrats, in the Andong area, such walls are also found in ordinary rectangular houses. This indicates that the people of Andong devised their methods to adhere to Confucian philosophy within their specific living environment.

Visitors will encounter several more of these walls when they explore Hahoe Village, serving as poignant reflections of Joseon’s enduring traditions.