Jeongdong-gil, Shin-A Memorial Hall

Jeong-dong feels as if time has stopped, where the past and present coexist in harmony. As you walk through its streets, the tranquil stone walls and Western-style buildings create a serene atmosphere, even in the bustling city. Standing along this path is the red-brick building of the Shin-A Memorial Hall, which exudes a unique presence.

Built in the 1930s, this building was originally used as the Korean branch of the American 'Singer Sewing Machine' company. In 1963, it was purchased by the Shin-A Ilbo newspaper, which added a third and fourth floor in 1975. However, in 1980, the newspaper was shut down due to the military regime's media consolidation policies and was later absorbed by the Kyunghyang Shinmun. Today, the building serves as a memorial hall dedicated to the founder of the Shin-A Ilbo, with offices and commercial facilities occupying part of the space. Designated as Registered Cultural Heritage No. 402 by South Korea, it stands as an important modern cultural asset.

The building is highly valued in modern architectural research for preserving architectural techniques from the Japanese colonial period. Moreover, it holds significance as the first privately built reinforced concrete structure in Korea. The history of the Shin-A Memorial Hall spans nearly a century, leaving deep traces over time. Originally called 'Jolly House,' it was a residence for foreign advisors, and it was constructed in the 1930s as a two-story building with a basement. In 1967, it became the headquarters of the Shin-A Ilbo, and in 1975, it took on its current form. The Shin-A Memorial Hall played a pivotal role in Korean media history, serving various purposes, including housing prisoners from the Manchurian region during the Japanese colonial era and functioning as an office for a U.S. State Department agency. In 1980, it became a site of media repression under the military regime’s media consolidation policies. The red bricks, which grow deeper in color with time, continue to tell the stories held within. The Shin-A Memorial Hall stands as a symbolic place that connects the past with the present.

Inside, the Shin-A Memorial Hall has transformed into a space for exhibitions and daily activities. Visitors come to create new stories within its walls. While it remains a place marked by the scars of the past, those scars have hardened like old trees. Here, people come to understand the past, express gratitude, and build new stories.

Following the stone walls of Deoksugung Palace, traces of the Korean Empire remain. Walking along Jeong-dong Street, one can feel the flow of history. During the turbulent period of Korea’s opening to the world, this area was home to embassies where diplomats came and went, and newspapers that raised their voices for the people. The Baejae School and Ewha School, which marked the beginning of modern education, also stood here, making Jeong-dong the center of the Korean Empire. Though it carries the pain of the past, as people walk through, time continues to flow, and new stories bloom in the Shin-A Memorial Hall and along the streets of Jeong-dong.