Gyeongsangbuk-do(Bonghwa-gun)

Tohyang Gotaek (The Old House of Tohyang) is one of the many historic houses in Bonghwa-eup that are full of the charming features of a hanok house, including a cozy pond, the subtle scent of ink and clay, and a quiet environment. It is run by a calligrapher-potter and his wife, an ex-Korean teacher. Baraemi Village in Bonghwa, where noblemen of the Yeongnam region lived for many generations, contains many old hanok houses. Notably, Tohyang Gotaek is the only house to provide guests with an opportunity to experience traditional Korean culture and creative arts activities. The house was originally inhabited by the owner’s great-grandfather. The owner returned from Seoul to his hometown in 1977 and entered the hanok stay business in the summer of 2012. The most popular hands-on program is the pottery making program which allows visitors to try their hand at making pottery with the potter’s wheel. The pottery space is set apart from the accommodation and consists of the wheel room, glazing room, and kiln room. The pottery program allows participants to make and glaze pottery, after which it is baked by the owner and then packed separately and sent to the participants. The House also provides other experience programs including Reading Experience, Debate, Poetry Composition, Sijo (traditional three-verse Korean poem) and Calligraphy programs. Situated next to the Pottery Workshop is a pine grove that surrounds the rear side of the hanok building like a folding screen. One of the most impressive features of the house is its tall gate (soseuldaemun), which rises higher than the roofs of the anchae (women’s quarters) and sarangchae (men’s quarters) thus, allowing a nobleman’s sedan chair or horse to enter the house easily. Passing through the tall gate, the keun sarangchae and jageun sarangchae are situated at the front, and there is a small passageway linking (them?) to the daemunchae along the wall. Entering the passageway, there is a square-shaped anchae along with a small lotus pond with a fantastic atmosphere. Tohyang Gotaek is packed with the owner’s artworks including ceramic and calligraphic works. Moreover, the owners’ smiling faces and warm-hearted services attract many guests all year round.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Cheongsong-gun)

Changsil gotaek (The Old House of Changsil) was originally built by Sim Ho-taek, the owner of Songso Old House, for his brother’s couple. Built in March 1917, the house is a square shaped structure measuring 27-kan (a unit of measurement referring to the distance between two columns) and consisting of the anchae (women’s quarters), sarangchae (men’s quarters), and busokchae (outbuilding). The name of the house ‘Changsil’ originated from the brother’s wife, who came from Changnyeong and was called ‘Changsil daek’ in Korean. The anchae and the sarangchae are arranged in parallel, with the chaekbang (study) and the gobang (storeroom) situated in between them, together forming the ㅁ-shaped structure of the house. The first building, or ‘sarangchae,’ consists of a sarangbang and a chaekbang between the daecheong (wooden floor). The sarangbang with 2-kan is relatively large. The haengrangchae (servants’ quarters) is a gable roofed building that used to be inhabited by domestic servants. This thatched hanok house also has a red clay room (hwangtobang) for guests.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Cheongsong-gun)

Cheongsong-gun in Gyeongsangbuk-do is a small village blessed with a spring flowing with natural mineral water, a beautiful valley with a majestic waterfall, and a mountain densely covered with pine trees. Thanks to this superb natural environment, Cheongsong-gun was designated as a 'Slow City' in 2011. Songjeong gotaek (The Old House of Songjeong) is located in the village of Deokcheon in Cheongsong-gun, which is one of the three richest and most prestigious families in the region. These three wealthy families are said to have produced millionaires for nine generations - from Sim Cheon-dae during the reign of King Yeongjo of Joseon (r. 17224-1776) to the 1960s. In particular, it was a seventh-generation grandson, Sim Ho-taek (pen-name: Songso), famous as one of the richest men in Joseon, who built Songso gotaek (Old House of Songso) along with three houses for his three sons, including Songjeong gotaek for his second son Sim Sang-gwang (pen-name: Songjeong) around 1880. As the Cheongsong Sim Clan has lived in the area for many generations, Cheongsong is known as the village of the Cheongsong Sim family. Covering a total area of about 10,000m2, Songjeong gotaek has a tall and grand front gate that symbolizes the wealth of the family. Upon entering by the gate, the large outer courtyard comes into view, followed by a gate connecting to the Old House of Songso on the right, and a walking path connecting to a well and a pine grove on the left. The square-shaped structure consists of a sarangchae (detached building), chaekbang (library), and daecheongmaru (main floored room). Passing through the entrance, there are the main building and the inner courtyard. Notably, the chaekbang has retained its original appearance from the time when it was used by Sim Sang-gwang. Although the house is very large, its interior is simply and modestly designed according to the virtues favored by classical scholars. The rooms are floor-heated in the traditional way (by ondol) using wood, decorated with traditional hanji (Korean paper), and equipped with traditional bedding. Songjeong gotaek offers visitors a variety of experience programs designed to promote the form of Korean classical music known as Gukak. It holds three major musical events each year including a pansori folksong program and a fusion gukak concert, attracting an audience of anywhere from 200 to 800 people to the courtyard of the house. Sometimes, families hold parties to celebrate their parents’ 60th, 70th, and 80th birthdays. The low hill situated behind the house has a quiet walking path.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongsan-si)

'Baram Haetsal Farm is located right next to a grove of jujube trees in Gyeongsan, Gyeongsangbuk-do, which is well-known for its jujubes. The guesthouse is a Korean traditional house that runs the Jujube Promotion Center and a jujube processing factory, both of which are open to the guests to experience. The house is composed of three buildings: the main building, a detached building, and a bungalow. The detached building and bungalow are where the guests can stay, each of which can accommodate up to four people. The rooms are furnished with air conditioner, refrigerator, and coffee pot. Since the guesthouse is situated right in the middle of a jujube farm, guests can try the delicious jujubes of Gyeongsan at the Jujube Promotion Center located next to the guesthouse. The center has a room for visitors to try jujubes and a seminar room. It also has processing facilities for the visitors to see how jujubes are processed. In autumn when jujubes are harvested, guests get to experience the farm life such as picking jujubes and making jujube rice cake made of flavored glutinous rice mixed with honey, dates, chestnuts, and jujubes. Reservations are required.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Andong-si)

'Gudamjeongsa House is located in the river front where you can see Nakdonggang River Gudamseupji (marsh) and is surrounded by a low mountain -- a cozy historic house where you can look up the sky. Originally, the house was a residence of the Andong Branch of the descendants of Gwangsan Kim’s Clan. Note, however, that Gwon Ohchun, head of a Korean traditional culture center, has acquired and remodeled and opened it in May 2010 for the public to experience this old family hanok house. It’s a quiet place where you can enjoy the nature of the Andong area. Its "ㅁ"-shaped structure with a courtyard is preserved as its original Hanok structure, but the tiled roof and rectangular stone below the stylobate were newly built. Each connected floor offers access to each room. While preserving the original features of hanok, some elements outside the hanok are new to the house such as the wall between the courtyard of the Anchae and the courtyard of the Sarangchae and a tall gate. The grassy courtyard is decorated with garden rocks and bonsai trees. Gudamjeongsa House's structure has a specific feature of having the courtyard, Anchae, Bakkatchae, and backyard all connected in a neat hill. The Bakkatchae has a patio type with high maru (wood floor), where guests can enjoy the scenery and a relaxing time, whereas the Anchae has a main room (Anbang) that used to be a family living space. The Anmadang in between the buildings is a square shape with empty ceiling, which helps circulate air and enhance the light access in the space. The courtyard, Anchae, and Anmadang situated inside the ㅁ-shaped structure form a triple composition of natural, artificial, and artificial-natural spaces. In general, the hanok house doesn’t have a courtyard covered with grass because it makes the house damp, but this house has one since the rectangular stone below the stylobate has elevated the house. Due to its characteristics as a hanok building, i.e., well-ventilated in summer since it has many doors and windows, Gudamjeongsa House has no air conditioner; in winter, however, the rooms are heated by putting wood on the furnace and guests can experience the heated floor of the room with the Korean-style heating system (ondol). Gudamjeongsa House provides traditional Korean dining that includes pickled wild greens of Siberian ginseng, mulberry leaves, and dandelion, grilled Andong mackerel, and side dishes without using artificial seasonings, prepared by the owner and loved by guests.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Andong-si)

'Andong City in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province is a town of culture and folk traditions where one can trace the long history of eminent families. It is also a symbol of time-honored tradition to the extent that the name Andong reminds people of traditional Korean hanok houses. Isangru, an ancient hanok house with a history of 2,590 years, located in the foothills of Mt. Cheondeungsan, served as a venue for the memorial rite for Kim Seon-pyeong, the progenitor of the Andong Kim clan and a meritorious government official during the reign of King Taejo of the Goryeo Dynasty. Isangru, meaning ‘a tall majestic building built on frosty ground’, is a two-story wooden building with a tiled roof characterized by elegant curves that form a half-hipped shape when viewed from the side. The house consists of two accommodations, Taejangtaesa and Isangru, arranged in a ‘ㅁ’ shape. The large door located in the middle of the ground floor offers an open view of the beautiful natural environment including a pine grove, a pond, and wild flowers. Built in 1750, this hanok house shows its age in its wooden pillars, stone walls, and interiors decorated with wooden engraving on the handrail. Guests can stay in a room heated with wood in winter, or in a tent for a different experience in summer. The house has been well maintained with various repair works, and underwent extensive renovations, including the wallpaper and floors, in 2013. Although it is close to a road, the house is surrounded by old trees, creating the impression that it is situated in the middle of a dense forest. A path runs between ancient pine trees on the road leading to the house. There is a pond with water lilies and white lotus flowers in front of the house, while various species of wild flowers including big blue lily turf, plantain lily, montane aster, and asters come into full bloom around the house in their respective seasons. Fully maintained by the Andong Kim clan, Isangru is a large structure that can accommodate many people and is used to hold clan assemblies. This tall building is also used as a venue for concerts, seminars and traditional hands-on experience programs for students, including tea ceremony, masked dance, natural dyeing, hanji (Korean paper) crafts, and filial duty education programs. The house also offers guests a traditional nobleman’s dining table including various wild vegetable dishes for breakfast. Isangru is popular among Korean and foreign guests who want to experience traditional Korean culture or enjoy a relaxing stay with their parents amid beautiful nature. In addition, it is located between Hahoe Folk Village and Dosanseowon Confucian Academy in Andong, and offers easy access to other nearby tourist attractions including Bongjeongsa Temple, which is the oldest wooden building in Korea and is just three minutes’ drive away, and the two-hour-long Dulegil Trail.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

Seorabeol Hanok Guesthouse is a beautiful traditional Korean house located in front of Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal. The room rates are reasonable, and it's very conveniently located right across from the express bus terminal. It has seven rooms (16~20㎡) that are big enough for up to 4 guests. In the shared kitchen and lounge are kitchen utensils, microwave oven, and rice cooker to allow the guests to cook. The guesthouse serves breakfast including toast. Located right at the center of Gyeongju, it's a great place to lodge for those planning to tour the city. A number of popular tourist destinations including Daereungwon Tomb Complex, Cheomseongdae Observatory, Donggung Palace, and Wolji Pond are just 15 minutes away from the guesthouse on foot. There are also fast food restaurants, marts, and Jungang Market in the vicinity of the guesthouse.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Andong-si)

Ogyeonjeongsa House was established by Ryu Seong-yong (pen-name: Seoae, 1542-1607), a minister of Joseon, with the help of Buddhist monk Tanhong, as a place to study and educate his students. After building Wonjijeongsa House, Ryu wanted to build another house at the foot of Buyongdae Cliff amid a tranquil environment away from the village, but due to his financial situation he was unable to complete the building by himself. Then, the monk Tanhong helped him build Ogyeonjeongsa House, which took ten years (1576 to 1586) to complete, when Ryu was 45 years old. Later, Ryu Seong-yong was able to share warmth with his brother (Gyeomam), who lived in nearby Gyeomamjeongsa House. Ryu later lost his house in Hahoe in the great flood of the Nakdonggang River in 1605, and retired to Ogyeongjeongsa House where he wrote Jingbirok (The Book of Correction, National Treasure 132), a memoir of the Imjin War (Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592). The house’s guestrooms include Sesimjae (meaning ‘having a mind to this place to achieve at least one in ten thousand things,’ inspired by the I Ching or The Book of Changes), which was used by Ryu as a schoolhouse and has two small rooms between the maru gamheonrok (wooden floor, meaning ‘looking up at the sky and down at the blue water,’ inspired by Wang Xizhi’s poetic diction); Wonlakjae (meaning ‘waiting for a friend’s visit,’ inspired by the Analects of Confucius), in which Ryu himself resided and wrote Jingbirok; and the maru aeoheon (meaning ‘I also love my hut,’ taken from a poem by Chinese poet Tao Yuanming), which measures two kan (a unit of measurement referring to the distance between two columns).


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

Historical Gyeongju will hold the 2019 Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Festival from April 3 - 7 around Cheomseongdae Observatory and Donbu Historic Site Area.  Visitors to Gyeongju will be able to enjoy a festival that combines cherry blossoms with art and culture.   


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Andong-si)

'Suaedang Traditional House was built by Ryu Jin-geol, also known by his pen-name of Suae, in 1939. This hanok-style house consists of three buildings that measure 29-kan (a traditional measurement that corresponds to the space between two columns) in total. The main room, or jeongchim (7-kan at front and 2-kan at sides), has a half-hipped roof, and forms a‘ㄱ’-shape with the storeroom (10-kan at front), which also has a half-hipped roof. Originally located at 612 Sugok-dong, Andong-si, the house was relocated from a slight slope to a flat piece of land due to the construction of Imha Dam in 1987. Consequently, the Jeongchim was rebuilt at a lower level than before. The Suaedang was renovated by modernizing the old-style facilities including the kitchen, toilets, and washroom without changing their external features, while the rooms and daecheongmaru (main floored room) were decorated with red clay and natural paint. Suaedang, with its beautiful panoramic view of the lake, was designated as Gyeongsangbuk-do Cultural Property No. 56.