• 건축역사연구
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.45-54
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• 2021

In 2020, Yi Hunwoo was discovered as one of the earliest modern architects in Korea. However, his personal life was yet mostly unknown, including the time of his death. The research team ('the team' hereafter) searched for the records of his personal life and professional career. First, his family genealogical chart revealed that he died in 1937. Having located and contacted Yi's direct descendents, the team was able to clarify his family background with the descendants' testimonies. They possess the photographs of him and his family members, including Yi's picture when he was a freshman at the Nagoya Higher Technical School in Japan. The team also identifies his birthplace and the location of his grave as Hadong, Gyeongsangnamdo, Korea. The team visited his project site in Jinju, Gyeonsangnamdo, Korea and obtained more detailed information about the Ilshin Girls' High School, which he designed in 1928. Gyohoan, the congregation records of Cheondogyo, one of the leading religions in Korea during Yi's times, confirmed that he was one of the congregation members. The field research also discovered the house he designed and built in his hometown of Hadong, probably the only surviving architectural project by him. This paper is to report the result of the research on Yi's life and career with the aim of providing materials for further studies in identifying and positioning him more properly in the early 20th century Korean architectural scene.