Namsangol Hanok Village is a free cultural garden park where 5 traditional hanok houses are relocated to preserve the Korean traditions and share them with tourists visiting Korea. It is located at the foot of Namsan Mountain and was chosen as the site of the Seoul Millennium Time Capsule.
Here’s a photo essay of our Namsangol Hanok Village visit…
Make this your first stop to avoid the tourist crowd. It opens as early as 9am.
There’s a cute photo-op area where you can pretend to wear traditional Korean costumes.
Our awesome Korean Tour Guide Helen showed us the orientation and gave tips on how to explore.
Ancenstral pavilions are built around the garden to show the beauty of ancient life in Namsan.
The garden is designed to have a natural flow of water with ponds all around the area.
Check out the traditional Korean handicrafts. We were given a straw craft demonstration during our visit.
The Hanok village is photogenic and awe-inspiring, especially for those who love culture. 🙂
Five hanoks and five important residents from the Joseon era
“At Namsangol Hanok Village, visitors can see the hanoks of important figures from the Joseon era including the house of Queen Yun’s parents, who was the Queen Consort to King Sunjong, the 27th king of the Joseon Dynasty; the jaesil (study) of Yun Taekyeong, King Sunjong’s father-in-law; the house of Park Yeonghyo, the son-in-law of King Cheoljong, the 25th king; the house of Lee Seungeop, who was in charge of constructing Gyeongbokgung (Palace) and the house of Kim Chunyeong, a military official of the Joseon Dynasty.” (Visit Seoul: Namsangol Hanok Village)
Check out the bigger version of the guide map for an even closer look.
One of the interesting things about the Hanok construction is the chimney…
…and the heating system for the floor of each Hanok house.
Here’s a view of the receiving area…
…the bedroom…
…and typical room cabinets.
There are also jars for storing, preserving, and fermenting food like Kimchi and chili paste.
It was fun seeing some Korean students having an outdoor workshop class.
The young Koreans are very welcoming and fun to be with. 🙂
After visiting the Hanok village, you can take a short 10-minute hike to the millenium capsule…
…through this paved walkway or another a scenic route through the woods.
Along the way, check out the Zero-km point in Korea where all the distances are measured from.
This is the site of the Seoul Millenium Capsule where they buried 600 items of modern life and culture in Seoul on November 29, 1994 to mark Seoul’s 600th anniversary.
The capsule will be opened on November 29, 2394 on the city’s 1,000th anniversary. It would be interesting to know what the future Koreans would say about the items in the capsule.
This a must-visit cultural stop if you want to appreciate traditional Korean culture. It’s also a great way to get some early morning exercise by walking around the park. And since it’s located in Seoul City itself, it’s very accessible to all modes of transportation. Best of all, entrance is free!
Make sure you visit early, around 8am, so you can have a nice walk, and then visit the Hanok village when it opens at around 9am. Go on a weekday (except on Tuesdays when they’re closed).
Namsangol Hanok Village
Address: 84-1, Pildong 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Telephone:+82 2-2264-4412
Website: http://hanokmaeul.seoul.go.kr/
Operating Hours:
- April to October: 9.00 am – 9.00 pm
- November to March: 9.00 am – 8.00 pm
- Closed on Tuesdays
Price: Free
Related Post: Visit Seoul : Namsangol Hanok Village
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Live an Awesome Life,
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
P.S. Thank you to Korean Tourism Organization of Manila for the Asian On Air Program: Asia Power Bloggers Tour of South Korea! 감사합니다 Kamsahamnida!
As I scroll down the page, all I can say is “WOW”. Traditional Hanok houses are still strong although it was built a long time ago, during the Joseon Dynasty.
Hi Anton. Very timely posts as we are going to Korea next year. Nice nice photos. Actually, I wanted more posts! 🙂 Did you take the DMZ Tour also?
Hi, I really love your posts! Me, my parents and my pamangkin are going to Korea in late September to early October. I was wondering if you could give me a few pointers for our trip… The leg with my family is 8-days long, while I’m staying on my own for another week. This is actually a gaining independence sort of trip as it’s my first solo venture and I just graduated.:) Anyway, I was wondering was your guide from the Namsangol Hanok Village or was he/she a goodwill guide? Would it be better for us if we had a guide for various parts of Seoul?
Hi Bianca,
Thanks for the comment. Our guide is Helen Kim https://www.facebook.com/helen.kim.528
She is one of the best English Speaking Tour Guide in Korea. You can coordinate with her and maybe get a guide for 1-2 days.
ANTON DIAZ
Founder, Our Awesome Planet
m:+63 917 5683627