Cheonggyecheon history and culture entry
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Biudanggyo Bridge
Biudanggyo Bridge in cheonggyecheon in Biudanggyo Bridge At the Biudanggyo Bridge to the north of the Cheonggyecheon Stream, there is a street called Jibon
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Description
Biudanggyo Bridge At the Biudanggyo Bridge to the north of the Cheonggyecheon Stream, there is a street called Jibongno. It was named after the pen name of Yi Su-gwang, who wrote the first encyclopedia of Korea, Jibong Yuseol. After 40 minutes of walk following the Jibongno Street, there is a little thatched house called ‘Biudang’; this is the place where Yi Su-gwang wrote Jibong Yuseol. Yu Gwan, the prime minister who lived in Usangak, a house with a rain-leaking roof Biudang was originally the residence of Yu Gwan, the prime minister of King Sejong, the fourth king of Joseon Dynasty. Because Yu Gwan spent his wages for the needy, he was unable to repair his own house. One day, when the rain was severe, the rain leaked into Yu Gwan’s room, so he had to use an umbrella, but he still worried about his neighbours and told his wife, “We are lucky that we have an umbrella, but how would others without one avoid this rain?" After that, people praised the integrity of Yu Gwan and called his house ‘Usangak’, meaning 'a house that needs an umbrella'. Yi Hui-geom, Yu Gwan’s descendant Yi Hui-geom, Yu Gwan’s descendant, was from a royal family and was a Minister of King Seonjo, the 14th king of Joseon, but he lived at Usangak. One day, a guest visited and said, "Isn’t this house too shabby for a government official to live?" Yi Hui-geom answered, “This house is too luxurious compared to an umbrella.” Yi Hui-geom’s son, Yi Su-gwang called this house ‘Biudang’, meaning 'a house that would barely shelter the rain'. Yi Su-gwang, who retired to Biudang In the year 1613, the fifth ruling year of Gwanghaegun, seven bastards of a prestigious family were involved in the case of robbery and murder. Daebuk Faction severely tortured them, entrapping this case into a treason by making them falsely state that the robbery was done in order to arrange money for the military to enthrone Prince Yeongchang. Dozens of courtiers were killed for being involved in this fabricated treason. Furthermore, Daebuk Faction killed Queen Mother Inmok’s nine-years old son, Prince Yeongchang, and also killed his grandfather Kim Jae-nam and his three sons. Disappointed by the ethics that fell on the ground, Yi Su-gwang abandoned his office and retired to Biudang. Biudanggyo Bridge was newly built during the restoration project of the Cheonggyecheon Stream to praise the righteous lives of Yi Su-gwang's household.
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Source
Korea Tourism Organization and Visit Seoul.