Jeollanam-do(Damyang-gun)

Hanok Pension is an old traditional Korean house located in Samjinae Village, Changpyeong-myeon, Damyang-gun, the first village in Asia to be listed as a 'Slow Village.' It has 16 guestrooms in traditional Korean house buildings along a stone-wall road just like in the old days in Korea. The guesthouse is conveniently located for those planning to visit Juknokwon (Bamboo Garden) and Metasequoia Street, which is regarded as the most beautiful street in Korea, because they are all within 30 minutes away from the guesthouse on foot. The old traditional Korean house consists of one main building and two detached buildings, between which is a large front yard. The two detached buildings are divided into different sections for the guests to stay in. You will see lots of different wild flowers in and around the premises. The tea room is another popular feature of the guesthouse because of the calming atmosphere.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Yecheon-gun)

Dojeongseowon Confucian Academy (142th Cultural Heritage Material of North Gyeongsang Province), located in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province, has been reborn as a unique Hanok stay destination. Originally established to commemorate Yakpo Jeong Tak (1526-1605), a man who saved the life of Admiral Yi Sunsin during his imprisonment, Dojeongseowon is located on the middle of a mountain surrounded by Naeseongcheon Stream. There are 4 rooms in total, namely the Lecture Hall, Euphojeong Pavilion, and Dongjae and Seojae dormitories. The Lecture Hall building is built upon a stone pedestal and has an expansive hall with a great view over the Naeseongcheon Stream. Breathing in the clear air of Yecheon brings one back to the days when the lecture hall rang out with the discussions of the scholars. With a floor area of about 100㎡, there are three rooms in total, making the unit an optimal choice for workshops and other group trips. The most exclusive and beautiful room is the Euphojeong Pavilion, built upon a cliff overlooking the Naeseongcheon Stream. It was the place reserved for guests of the academy, and it is also the best place in the complex to hear the sounds of water rushing down the stream below the cliff. Dongjae and Seojae units include a bathroom, but guests staying in the Euphojeong Pavilion and the Lecture Hall must use a public bathroom outside the building. Ipdeokru Pavilion, which functioned as something akin to the gate to the entire complex, is a seminar room which can host up to 30 people. Standing on the 2nd floor of the pavilion brings one to the view of the Naeseongcheon Stream flowing in an arc around the mountain. Outdoor barbecue grills are located to the back of the Dongjae and Seojae units. Yecheon is a city brimming with scenic sights and historic heritages. Choganjeong Pavilion, the filming site of the K-drama Mr. Sunshine, is located 30 minutes away by car. Other sights like Hoeryongpo Meandering Stream, Geumdangsil Traditional Village, and Yongmunsa Temple are located 30 minutes by car.


Jeollanam-do(Naju-si)

Naju Moksanaea was the private residence of the moksa, the title of highest official in the region. This traditional hanok house was built in 1825 and is recognized as Jeollanam-do Cultural Hertiage No. 132. The house is open to the public during the day, and operates as an accommodation during the evenings.


Gyeongsangnam-do(Sancheong-gun)

'Located at the entrance to Jirisan Mountain in Namsa-ri, Sancheong County and blessed with a beautiful natural environment, Namsa Yedamchon Village, along with Andong Hahoe Village, is the representative village of traditional hanok (traditional Korean houses) in Gyeongsang-do Province and is regarded as one of the most beautiful villages in Korea. The village is well-known for its 3.2km-long low stone wall, and the name 'Namsa Yedamchon' implies 'a village with old walls' in the hope that we emulate classical scholars’ spirit and courtesy. The Old Walls of Namsa Village were designated as Registered Cultural Heritage No. 281. Along with the old walls, a total of nine cultural heritages were designated as national treasures or cultural properties including the House of the Choi Clan (Gyeongnam’s Cultural Property Material No. 117) and the House of the Yi Clan (Gyeongnam’s Cultural Property Material No. 118). Namsa Yedamchon Village was also selected as a Rural Traditional Theme Village, operating various programs related to traditional learning experiences including farming, traditional games, trip to old houses, and seodang (village school) experience. As a typical noble family’s house in the southern area, Wolgang gotaek (the House of the Choi Clan) is situated in the middle of Namsa Yedamchon Village. This outstanding hanok house offers many charms including a beautiful wall stretching from the public parking lot to the house, a tall gate with exceptional x_height, and 230-year-old Japanese apricot tree as well as its large size and splendid features. Its head family of the house is the Maesa House of Jeonju Choi’s Clan in Hangnim-ri, Goseong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, and they have lived in the area since their great-great-grandfather. As for the house buildings, the Anchae (women’s quarters) was built in 1920; the Sarangchae (men’s quarters) was completed in 1921, the Byeolchae (detached house) named 'Iknangchae,' the Gwangchae (storage), and the barn were built during the same period. The buildings are arranged in 'ㅁ'-shaped structure – the Anchae at the center with the Sarangchae, the Iknangchae, and the Gwangchae. There are two inner gates on the right and left to the Sarangchae. The Anchae and the Iknangchae cannot be seen from the west inner gate, according to the Confucian idea about separate spaces for men and women. The Anchae with 6 kan (a unit of measurement referring to the distance between two columns) in front and 3 kan on the sides has toenmaru (the narrow wooden porch running along the outside of the building) in front and on the rear side, semi-hipped roof, and high ceiling. The Anchae is composed of kitchen, main room, small room, daecheong (main floored room), and another small room, which retains its refined design of the door. The Sarangchae with 5 kan in front and 3 kan on the sides is a house with several wings and a semi-hipped roof. It is composed of two rooms, daecheong, another two rooms, and a room with wooden floor. The Sarangchae is characterized by its round pillars. Facing the east, the iknangchae with 4 kan in front and 2 kan on the sides consists of daecheong, room with ondol (Korean heating system), and storage space for food materials. Wolgang gotaek was chosen as a Korea Noble House in 2014. The owner is planning to expand the accommodations by building two rooms in the Sarangchae and a separate room in the Iknangchae for the convenience of guests. It is set to modernize various facilities including toilets, TV, air conditioner, wireless Internet, and kitchen equipment as well as provide diverse hands-on programs such as tea ceremony and traditional games. The owner aims to offer guests an opportunity to enjoy staying in an old hanok house with a comfortable environment by preserving the beauty of old hanok and its tradition without damaging the house with various activities.


Gangwon-do(Hongcheon-gun)

Located in Hongcheon, Gangwon-do Province, Namusae is a hanok-style pension that was built in 2011. It is surrounded by beautiful scenery and boasts a panoramic view of Palbongsan Mountain from the front of the building and the Hongcheongang River below. It consists of various types of independent and convenient hanok buildings, including rooms equipped with the Korean style of floor heating system (ondol), rooms with beds, a modern-style kitchen, and high ceilings. The pension’s buildings were constructed with pine wood from Unduryeong Hill at Gyebangsan Mountain, while the interiors were made with natural red clay, charcoal and pyroligneous liquor. Guests can enjoy diverse leisure activities as the pension is adjacent to the famous resort Vivaldi Park (10 minutes’ drive).


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.


Gyeongsangnam-do(Tongyeong-si)

Maemul Islands (매물도) refer to the three islands in Maejuk-ri, Hansan-myeon: Daemaemul Island (대매물도), Somaemul Island (소매물도), and Deungdae (lighthouse) Island (등대도, also known as Geulssingiseom Island (글씽이섬)). The best view can be seen from the sea cliffs of Somaemuldo Island and Deungdaedo Island. Somaemuldo Island, whose entire area is no more than 2.51㎢, is the main island, and Daemaemuldo Island, Hongdo Island, Deungdaedo Island (Haeguemdo Island), Daegueulbido Island and Sogueulbido Island are all smaller islets scattered around the main island. Somaemuldo Island is home to about 20 households. If you hike up the hill behind the village, you can reach the highest point of Somaemuldo Island, or Mangtaebong. There is a natural observation spot where you can look out at all the islets of Tongyeong including Deungdae Island as well as Haegeumgang of Geoje. The waves hitting the cliffs, generating white foams and rainbow sprays, is one of the most fascinating views on Korean southern coast. At the peak of summer, you can enjoy water sports or try scuba-diving in the deep areas. Visitors are strongly recommended to look around Somaemuldo Island by passenger boat from which it’s easier to see the surrounding cliffs and wave action.


Jeollabuk-do(Muju-gun)

Jeoksangsan Mountain (적상산, elevation 1,034 m) in Muju, Jeollabuk-do, is surrounded by precipitous walls of stratified rocks. The basin on the mountain top there is a lake called ‘Jeoksangho’; and along the ridge enclosing the lake stands Jeoksangsanseong Fortress (적상산성) extending over 8,143 m. During the Goryeo period the region was a place of refuge for civilians at times of war. The fortress wall was built during the Joseon era.