[국가유산지킴이기자단] Japanese style houses in Korea

최종편집 2026-04-18(토)

[교육연합신문=안우현 학생기자]

There are some houses that look out of place in Korea with styles that deviate from the typical Korean building. These houses are former Japanese houses from the colonial era. They are mostly located in cities like Incheon and Seoul, where many Japanese families moved to make a living. Built for Japanese during the Japanese occupation period of Korea from 1910 to 1945, they follow the general Japanese style architecture with straight sloped roof and 2 story structure. After the occupation ended, the government confiscated these Japanese houses and redistributed them to the Korean people. As time passed, these houses were neglected or damaged due to the lack of awareness about their heritage. Furthermore, as Korea sought to rapidly modernize, many Koerans viewed these houses as relics of colonialism and demolished most, leaving only a few houses intact.

However, these houses hold architectural significance as they blended western, Japanese, and Korean influences. They utilized western materials like glass and brick while utilizing a Korean internal heating system called the Ondol, which heats the floor. Acknowledging their significance, the government has started designating them as cultural heritages starting in the 2000s.

Although these houses represent a painful era of Korean history, they still function as heritages that have withstood a 100 years and represent Korea’s modern history. Many of these Japanese style houses have been transformed into cafes, serving as cultural spaces where tourists can get a glimpse into the daily lives of people living in Korean in the 1920s.

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