Published Date : Dec 22, 2021 / Edited Date : Apr 08, 2024
A Road Brimming with Great Vibes and History
Walking down from Anguk Station towards Bugaksan Mountain, you can see hanok architecture (traditional Korean houses) between low-rise buildings. This place is called Bukchon Hanok Village, and it is filled with peaceful vibes ensconced in hanok, which is a must-visit tourist destination in Seoul. It was originally a residential area for elite classes in the Joseon dynasty, but changed as Japanese people started to settle down in the area around the 1930s. Jeong Se-gwon, a real estate developer who wanted to retain the vibes of the place, bought land in the area and began to build groups of small to medium-sized hanok buildings. This is the story of Bukchon Hanok Village’s origins.
Now is the perfect season to take a light stroll in the fresh autumn breeze. Let’s go explore Bukchon Hanok Village and see traces of history that are still kept around.
A Library in A Hanok Village
#Jeongdok_Library
Walking up a gentle slope, you can see Jeongdok Library past Bukchon Village Information Center. A large garden and a white building give a calm atmosphere unique to the library. It is said that this served as the site of one of Hangeul inventors’ residence. In 1900, Kyunggi High School was established here, which then relocated to Gangnam-gu. In 1977, the building was renovated into the current-day Jeongdok Libarary. The place related to the birth of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, turned into a library with bookshelves filled with literary works.
One of the charms of Jeongdok Library would be its garden, of which the space was divided into four sections for a balanced arrangement. In the middle, there is a fountain that gives a rather western atmosphere. As the library is located on a hill, the garden has a great view over Bukchon. On the one side, there are cherry blossom trees that bring the garden alive in spring.
The library building is characterized by its unique architecture as it was built in the 1930s following a Western architectural style of the time. It also has familiar characteristics of a school as it was first constructed as a school building. For example, it has long, straight corridors and same sized rooms. The symmetrical structure with the raised entrance in the center shows the orderly appearance unique to a school. The remarkably decorated central stairs also show the high authority of educators.
Jeongdok Public Library
48, Bukchon-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (Hwa-dong 2)
Data room 09:00-18:00 /Weekends 09:00-17:00
Humanities and Social Sciences Room, Language and Literature, Genealogy Room 09:00-20:00 / Weekends 09:00-17:00
Self-study room
Summer season (March-October) 7:00-22:00 / Winter season (November-February) 08:00-22:00
- Closed: Closed on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month/holidays except Sundays
#Jeongdok_Library #KyunggiHighSchool
Unique-shaped Lavish Modern Hanok
#Baek_Inje’s_House
Under the fences of Jeongdok Library, you can find Baek Inje’s House, which was designated as a Historic House Museum in November 2015 and opened to the public. It was established in 1913 by Han Sang-ryong, nephew of Lee Wan-yong, when Korea was under Japanese occupation, and was named after the last owner Baek Inje, founder of Seoul Paik Hospital. It is a lavish hanok that is even differentiated from the other houses of the upper class, and built with Korean black pine from the Yalu (Amnokgang) River, the latest wood introduced at the time.
At first sight, you can see its difference from other hanok buildings that you might be familiar with. It is because it was constructed by converging the traditional Korean hanok architectural style with the Japanese. Also, to be used as a banquet hall, it was built with a mixture of various styles and materials. From the outside, the difference can be felt from the use of red bricks and glass. When you go inside, you can see the distinct Japanese style from the Japanese-type corridor and the tatami floor. In addition, unlike other hanok buildings of which the men’s quarters and women’s quarters are separated, the two spaces are linked through a corridor so that you can come and go between two spaces without going outside.
Hanok houses normally don’t have windows around the wooden floor hall in the middle of the house, and instead ventilate by letting air in and out. However, Baek Inje’s House has windows around the wooden floor hall. Through the windows, you can see the yard and feel the changes of seasons from inside. The windows prevent the house from being influenced by weather, but reduce ventilation, which is a major characteristic of hanok architecture.
Baek Inje’s House comprises a doorway room, men’s quarters, women’s quarters, annex, yard and garden. The annex behind the house is small, but has a great view and is a good place to unwind. Its glass windows let enough sunshine in as well. Baek Inje’s House was also the filming site of the film Assassination.
Harmony of Traditional Hanok and Modern Architecture
#Gahoe-dong_Catholic_Church
If Baek Inje’s House shows a new type of traditional Korean hanok architecture mixed with Japanese style, Gahoe-dong Catholic Church shows another type of architecture. The old church building constructed in 1949 was demolished, and a new building was built in 2014. The new Gahoe-dong Catholic Church is remarkably characterized by the juxtaposition of traditional hanok and modern architecture. The two different styles were not made into a melange, but juxtaposed so that people can feel the different charms at the same time.
The building expresses a Korean gentleman wearing hanbok putting his arms around a blue-eyed foreign priest. The low-built hanok, giving Korean traditional vibes to the area that was losing such atmosphere, and the western-style church behind it catch the eyes of passers-by. While the construction project was planned on a large lot of 3,300 square meters, the project divided up construction into three buildings matching the atmosphere of the neighborhood. Natural materials were mainly used and stained glass was used minimally to enhance the charm of hanok architecture.
The hanok building was built using Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora) by a master carpenter of intangible cultural heritage to create high-quality results. As it is a religious building, you can find various religious elements inside. The miracle of five loaves of bread and two fish is engraved on the tiles of the roof. Such small details make us imagine the time when the priest who majored in architecture and the architect in charge of design shared their opinions to settle on the design of the buildings.
Walking down through Bukchon Hanok Village looking around picturesque cafes and small shops, you can find Slow Forest. Even just its name brings comfort and eases the mind. Slow Forest is a cafe and lifestyle shop. It sells eco-friendly products and pets are allowed in for customers to enjoy the space to the fullest. Once a two-story house, it was renovated into a cafe with rooftop seats.
The interior and exterior are designed using wood and white tones. The natural texture of the walls that resembles hanok makes the atmosphere of the space cozier. The yard has small pebbles and sand to remind you of hanok as well, adding to the traditional atmosphere. Through the wide wooden-frame windows at the entrance, you can view the hanok in front of the building.
When you pass the shelter for abandoned dogs on the 2nd floor and go up to the 3rd floor, or the rooftop, you can look down on the tiled roofs of hanok architecture with mountains in the background. The rooftop space is also characterized by tables and chairs made of red bricks that might remind you of Baek Inje’s House. How about taking a break at this cafe with Korean traditional vibes and feel time flow by slowly in Bukchon Hanok Village?
Buildings and architecture form a city, and cities come together to form a country. And that’s why architecture reflects the history and culture of a city as a component of the city. Seoul X Archibear’s A Tour of Seoul’s Streetside Architecture was designed to provide a fresh perspective on the city by sharing the anecdotes of architectural culture while traveling around South Korea’s capital.
Well-built and distinctive architecture can serve as a piece of art carved in our city. And in Seoul, which is rich with diverse history and characteristics, there are beautiful buildings that are worth paying a visit. We hope that this special series helps promote Seoul as an ideal travel destination and invite everyone to experience the hidden architectural beauty in Seoul’s everyday life.
A Tour of Seoul’s Streetside Architecture series was produced by Visit Seoul in collaboration with ArchiBear, a brand created by the architectural culture and travel content company, Haas Studio.
Curious to get more information on architectural tourism in Seoul?
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Seoul Guided Walking Tour Office and Seoul culture and tourism guide are not liable for the safety accidents during the Seoul Guided Walking Tour.
All reservations will be canceled in the event of a weather warning being issued. (e.g. heatwave, typhoon, heavy rain, fine dust, etc.) (Cancellation will be processed immediately upon implementation)
※ Please always check the weather warning on the day of the reservation on the site below.
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