Yun Dong-ju Boarding House Site

This is the site of the boarding house where the tragic genius poet Yun Dong-ju stayed. The poet entered Yonhui College (now Yonsei University) in 1938 and boarded at the school dormitory, Bukahyeon-dong, and Seosomun area, and it is said that he lived at '9 Nusang-dong, Jongno-gu' from May to September 1941. This place was the home of novelist Kim Song, whom the poet usually admired, and although he stayed for only a short period of about five months, he wrote ten brilliant poems here, including 'Counting Stars at Night' and 'Self-Portrait,' making it a meaningful space today that attracts continuous visitors. At the time when poet Yun Dong-ju actually stayed, it was a tiled hanok, but now the old appearance has disappeared, and only a signboard reading 'Yun Dong-ju Boarding House' is attached to the wall of a multi-unit house. About 180 meters from the boarding house, you will find Susung-dong Valley, the entrance to Inwangsan Mountain. Later, the poet's friend and then-roommate, Seoul National University Professor Jeong Byeong-uk, recalled this period, saying, 'Before breakfast, we would take a walk up to the middle of Inwangsan Mountain behind Nusang-dong, wash our faces anywhere in the mountain valley, return to the room, finish cleaning, have breakfast, and then go to school.' It is a unique attraction that captures people's footsteps, giving a glimpse into the inner life of Yun Dong-ju, the beloved national poet of Korea, and sparking curiosity about what inspired the young poet.