Most of the Korean dramas I had seen are historical or sageuk (Hangeul: 사극). They encourage me to learn more about the history of Korean (and eventually find out that many of them aren’t faithful to what is historically written). A lot of these dramas are filmed at folk villages, like the Korean Folk Village for example. There are other folk villages used for filming like there is one in Jecheon, Mungyeong, Naju, Jeju-do and more. Among these, the Korean Folk Village is the most accessible.
Last year, I visited the Korean Folk Village (KFV) twice. The first time in early spring (April) and the second time was in late autumn (November). I enjoyed both visits and so did my companions.
Getting there.
By car – In April, we went to KFV by car. The theme park has a huge parking space and it was only about a third full when we got there by 12 noon. The website says there is a parking space but we weren’t asked to pay.
By public transportation – In November, we took public transportation. I went there with my sisters who visited us from the Philippines. We took the subway line 3 to Yangje station. Got out at exit 9 and walked a few meters to the bus stop.
More about getting there from the Korean Folk Village transportation guide.
Admission. The entrance fee is 15,000 won for adults and 12,000 won for kids. The full package (which includes the amusement rides) is 20,000 won. During our second trip, I got discounted tickets at 7,000 won each through a social commerce site.
Exploring. At the Korean Folk Village, you can get a glimpse of how Koreans lived hundreds of years ago. You’ll find the types of houses people used to live in. The houses of the peasants, farmers and nobles are different from each other. As well as the northern, southern and island (Jeju-do) houses.
You can also see the shops of a blacksmith, silk weaver, wood worker and basket weaver. There is also a traditional Korean medicine shop where you can have traditional tea. You can purchase the items they make. Most of the souvenirs are handmade (and even right before your eyes).
Performances. If you’re going to visit the KFV, make sure to be there early so you can watch the shows – the equestrian feat, traditional wedding, farmers music and dance and the acrobatic tightrope. You can check the KFV website for the schedule of the folk performances.
Experience. Korean Folk Village is not all about sightseeing and picture-taking. You also get to experience how folks from before lived. Do you know how women before straightened (ironed) the clothes?
Food. You can bring your own food or buy at the traditional market. When I first went there, we brought some kimbap with us. During the second time, we just ate there. Prices are affordable and that time my sisters wanted to try more Korean food so we ordered four meals: seafood pancake, tofu and kimchi, bibimbap and beanpaste stew. We finished everything! My son loves tofu and he ate half of it – plus rice and soup!
I have over 500 pictures of the two trips I made to the Korean Folk Village last year. I’m planning to go there again this year. I would recommend traveling there early and spending a whole day. I had so much fun and my sisters even said that the time we spent there wasn’t enough. This place is highly recommended especially if you’ve been watching Korean historical dramas. Should you go there in winter, spring, summer or autumn?
Hello ate Betchay!
I’m just wonderin’ po if you have received my email few days ago?
🙂
yung food and pinakagusto ko!!!!
spotted: Sungkyunkwan scandal and jewel in the palace!
gusto ko rin ang mga hanok village..
it’s a nice place… punta ka rito pag naligaw ka sa korea
I will definitely go there pag natuloy trip namin to Korea..I loved watching historical drama, from jewel in the palace down to dong-yi. BTW, dong-yi is now currently airing late night on GMA 7.
I admire Korea the way they preserve their folk villages…Thumbs up!!!
Korean Folk Village was built 1974 during Park Chung Hee regime. Ex-Korean president Park Chung Hee (1963~1979) is well-known for his iron-hand rule ultimately leading to Han River Miracle.
Park Chung Hee’s greatness, however, is not just confined to economic accomplishments under his leadership, but also extended to Korean culture preservation, restoration of Korean historic sites, nature preservation, reforest movement and tree planting.
You can see green lush forest surrounding Korean Folk Village. Park Chung Hee had a great mission for Korea reforest and tree planting, and he meticulously made a plan for reforest and tree planting. Koreans planted more than 10 billion trees under his leadership and transformed the naked Korean mountains into lush green forests.
Korean reforest is considered as a miracle in the world. Korea is the only one country which succeeded in the country-wide reforest since the World War 2. Wood volume in Korea has increased by twenty two times since Park Chung Hee began Korean reforest although most of countries immensely lost their forest and wood volume in the midst of industrialization.
I am sure Korean Folk Village and its surrounding lush green forest can be reminiscent of Park Chung Hee.
Definitely I am going to visit this place….food looks yummy!!!
Highly recommended!