Namsangol Hanok Village 남산골한옥마을

If you get off from Exit 3 or 4 of Chungmuro Subway Station, you are right in front of Namsangol Hanok Village. You may find it interesting that this traditional Korean village is standing between the modern skyscrapers. This village has five restored traditional Korean houses and a pavilion, a pond and a time capsule, also making it a perfect spot to take a leisure walk.

When you enter from the front gate, you will see the vast valley and the Chunugak Pavillion to the left of the pond. Beside the pond, there is a big space where performances are usually held. On the other side, you will see five traditional houses. These houses were remodeled after the traditional houses of Joseon Dynasty and belong to those of various social classes, ranking from peasants to the king. The furniture in the house is situated to help guests understand the daily lives of the past, and the clean, traditional houses, as well as their antique items provide a great photo op.

If you would like to check out some souvenirs, stop by the traditional craftwork exhibit where you can buy small dishes and other items. You can also have some traditional tea and refreshments. On the grounds, there are traditional games that you may try such as 'neolttwigi' (sea-saw jumping), 'tuho'(arrow throwing) and 'yunnori' (traditional game of throwing wooden yut sticks).

Don't forget to catch the traditional marriage ceremony that takes place. During the weekends, traditional marriages are shown at Bak Yeong Hyo's Residence. The traditional marriage ceremony is an interesting event for both Koreans and foreigners and many gather to watch. During the winter season (November to February), there are not as many wedding ceremonies as compared to that during spring and fall. Weddings are typically held around noon or 1 p.m. and visitors can take pictures with the husband and wife wearing traditional wedding costumes. There is also a time capsule commemorating Seoul’s 600 Year Anniversary that was buried in 1994 and is scheduled to be reopened four hundred years later in 2394.