In Seoul : Bukchon Hanok Village

Navigating the streets of Bukchon Hanok Village

What is a hanok? It’s a traditional Korean house. An ideal hanok follows the principle of baesanimu wherein the house is built with a mountain at the back and a river in front. Geography also dictates its design—square with a central courtyard to block cold wind and retain heat in the cold northern region, a straight line to allow good wind circulation in the southern region, and L-shaped, open design in the central region. The all-natural materials used to construct and design are the unique features of hanoks.

One of the featured alleys on the map. View No.5 on the list - Gahoe-dong Alley (Harmony) downhill looking up

But what else makes the hanok so special that it draws the crowds? For one, history. The hanok was first designed and built 600 years ago, in 14^th century Joseon Dynasty. There are several villages with hundreds of well-preserved houses. Second, pop culture. Korean TV shows and dramas shoots on locations that became desirable to fans, and Bukchon Hanok Village has been featured in several scenes. TV has encouraged them to travel to the attractions and relive the scenes in rented hanbok.

400 years of history. Hanok tiled roofing. View No. 4 on the list- view from the Hillside area at 31 Gahoe-dong

Bukchon Hanok Village has been preserved to present a 600-year-old urban environment. Bukchon, which literally means “northern village”, lies on a hill north of two city landmarks, the Cheonggyecheon Stream and Jongno. The village showcases hundreds of this traditional houses that date back to the Joseon Dynasty. It is said that this was the address of nobility and high-ranking government officials of that era.

Beautifully preserved

Korea has several well-preserved hanok villages and Bukchon in Seoul is one of them. It's easy-to-reach address makes it doubly popular to the tourists.

Downhill scene

The village is a few meters away from the Anguk Subway Station. There are tourist information centers and guides posted on primary areas to assist tourists. Visitors can opt for a guided tour or tour the area at their own pace. Ask for a map of the area (available in different languages), they will mark the eight of the most picturesque views of the village.

Photogenic backdrop

What visitors should keep in mind is that Bukchon Hanok Village is an actual residential area. Tourists are advised to be mindful at all times not to disturb the residents. Areas can get very crowded but tourist police are present to maintain peace and order.

Be mindful

At present, many of these hanoks have been converted to guesthouses, restaurants and tea houses, and cultural centers. It’s a chance for visitors can immerse themselves in traditional Korean culture.