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Hahoe Folk Village is the ancient home of one of Korea’s most renowned families. As a result, they lived there for more than 600 years. Subsequently, the village is also a living museum. Thus preserving many cultural traditions. Interestingly, it’s still inhabited, and you can rent one of the homes and experience traditional Korean village life in real-time. Visitors seeking a traditional housing experience should try staying in a traditional Korean house called a hanok. So now anyone can sleep in one of these homes at Hahoe Folk Village Stay and feel like an ancient. There are several hanok stay villages all over Korea. For more information, visit the Hanokstay information page.
Table of Contents
- Hahoe Folk Village Stay: What is a Hanok?
- The View from Buyongdae Cliff
- Andong Dam: A Modern Contrast
- Dosan Seowon: Preserving Confucian Heritage
- Hahoe Folk Village Traditions
- Follow the Rules
- Hands-On Traditions at Hahoe Folk Village
- How to Make a Reservation at Hahoe Folk Village
Hahoe Folk Village Stay: What is a Hanok?
Hahoe Folk Village is the ancient home of one of Korea’s most renowned families, who lived there for over 600 years. The village is also a living museum that preserves many cultural traditions. However, today, visitors can rent one of the homes to experience traditional Korean village life. Staying overnight in a hanok, a traditional Korean house, also offers an authentic glimpse into the past.
A hanok is built using natural materials like wood, earth, and stone, and is designed in harmony with its surroundings. Moreover, these homes follow the principles of Feng Shui, ensuring they coexist peacefully with nature. Furthermore, hanoks are excellent examples of sustainable architecture, offering a simpler, quieter way of life. However, as you walk through Hahoe Folk Village, you can sense the history in the worn wooden doors, pillars, and wide plank floors. There are no modern conveniences like Wi-Fi or TV, so visitors can fully embrace the serenity of the experience.
The View from Buyongdae Cliff
The viewpoint from Buyongdae Cliff provides a breathtaking panorama of Hahoe Folk Village. The village’s name, meaning “village circled by water,” appropriately comes from the Nakdong River, which wraps around its perimeter. Additionally, from the cliff, you can see the tile-roofed and thatched homes that have been preserved for centuries. Furthermore, the river’s gentle curve enhances the sense of timelessness and tranquility.
Moreover, the view captures the essence of Korean traditional life, offering visitors a peaceful retreat from the modern world. It’s also the perfect spot for photography or quiet contemplation, with the village below and the river stretching into the distance.
Andong Dam: A Modern Contrast
From the viewpoint, you can also see the Andong Dam in the distance. Built on the Nakdong River, the dam plays a critical role in flood control and irrigation for the region. It creates a serene body of water that complements the natural beauty of Hahoe Folk Village. The dam represents the balance between progress and tradition, showing how modern infrastructure can coexist with historical and cultural landmarks.
Dosan Seowon: Preserving Confucian Heritage
A short drive from the viewpoint, Dosan Seowon stands as one of Korea’s most important Confucian academies. Built in 1574 to honor the scholar Yi Hwang, also known as Toegye, it has survived the closure of many academies in the late 19th century. Its significance as a center of moral philosophy and learning helped preserve it.
The academy’s serene setting, surrounded by trees and overlooking the Nakdong River, makes it an ideal place for reflection and learning. Dosan Seowon continues to attract scholars and visitors seeking to understand Korea’s Confucian traditions and heritage.
Hahoe Folk Village Traditions
Hahoe Folk Village is not only a place to stay, but a cultural treasure. The village’s traditions, such as the Hahoe Mask Dance, tell the story of Korea’s past. This satirical dance, performed every few years, reflects the tension between the upper and lower classes. The dance is also believed to protect the village from disease and disaster.
Visitors can take part in several hands-on traditions, including making kimchi, brewing soju, pounding rice cakes, and participating in traditional tea ceremonies. The village also offers cultural experiences like trying on hanboks, learning about traditional Korean music, and attending mask-making workshops. For a deeper dive into local culture, visitors can explore the Andong Mask Museum and the Andong Mask Dance Festival.
Follow the Rules
When staying in a hanok, keep in mind that these are historical wooden structures, and certain modern conveniences may not be available. For example, making a fire might be prohibited, and bathrooms or showers could be located outside to maintain the authenticity of the experience. These limitations are part of what makes a hanok stay such an immersive and genuine step back in time.
Hands-On Traditions at Hahoe Folk Village
At Hahoe Folk Village, visitors can engage in various hands-on cultural activities, including:
Food
Guests make kimchi and bibimbap, brew soju and wine, and pound rice cakes, in addition to participating in tea ceremonies.
Culture
You can try on hanboks, make masks, and create hanji paper. Some experiences include traditional Korean music lessons and stone or wood rubbings. Visit the Andong Mask Museum and enjoy the Andong Mask Dance Festival.
Nature
Craftsmen create many village masks and artifacts using natural materials and dyes.
Games
Visitors participate in traditional Korean games like top spinning, stick-throwing, and kite making.
How to Make a Reservation at Hahoe Folk Village
Visit Hahoe Folk Village at 40, Jongga-gil, Pungcheon-myeon, Andong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do. For a full experience, check out the Hahoe World Mask Museum or Andong Mask Dance Festival. Hanok stay options are available across Korea, with more details on the hanokstay information page. Contact +82-54-854-3669 for reservations.
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Wow! What a great place to go visit! Full of culture!
These photos are great. I would love to visit a place like this.
Not just your pics and experiences, which are awesome to start with, I also love the way your Blog is laid out. Easy to read and enjoy!
This is sooo beautiful and it doesn’t look like a village home lol. Love it!
They are beautifully simplistic homes. I’m obsessed with their design.
It would be so nice to be able to stay at such a place. You can definitely learn more about Korea’s culture and history here. It’s beautiful.
Me and a couple girlfriends are going to stay in one next week. It should be a really good experience to share.
I love wooden architecture, it feels like it holds so much history! This would be the perfect place for a retreat
I love thats it made with all natural products too. They fit into the environment very well.
Amazing village. I had fun reading the post and viewing the pics.
Thanks for your comment and support. Come back soon.
Thanks for sharing I’ve learned a lot about the village traditions.
Thanks. My work here is done. Lol.
I love the architecture on these buildings! You definitely don’t see that here in the states!
I love walking the backstreets and small towns… you find some of the most beautiful architecture.
Wow! This place is so amazing! Do they demonstrate how to make all of their famous food? You make me want to go there now!
xo,
Molly
allaboutgoodvibes.com
Hi Molly. If you want to stay with us… you gotta roll soon. We are moving abroad in a few weeks. Lol. If not, do come. Its still inexpensive compared to its neighbors.
These are such beautiful pictures. I the love the faces that are etched in the wood.
Thats what got me interested initially. They are fabulous.
I have never been to Korea before. It looks like there is some beautiful architecture and history! Thanks so much for sharing your experience. 🙂
Hi Jessica… you are welcome. Its a country that fascinates and infuriates at the same time lol
This looks beautiful! I love the history and tradition associate with the place too.
I am a history nerd. Just point me to the old stuff and I’m in heaven.
This all looks quite interesting especially the wooden statues! It’s fun to see people promoting small villages worth visiting instead of the big cities! Keep it up
I agree, I went because I wanted to see the carvings and they are interesting, but I found so much more than those to keep my interests.
This place looks really beautiful.I love such traditional places.The entrance gate is really beautiful.Bit similar to the gates of Chinese temples I see in Singapore…
Yes, vey similar but different woods and construction. But both are very pretty.
This place looks so awesome! So much history and traditions!
Than you for your support of duffelbagspouse travels. I appreciate it.
How neat! I always love to explore unique places. I would love to try the food experience.
Me too it makes living a broad so much more interesting.
This seems like a really cool place to visit. My husband and I have been working on a travel list for after we get some debt paid off, and this looks like it might have to go on the list.
I hope you do consider Asia and SE Asia when you do travel. There are so many beautiful places in this region and you get so much for your money compared to other parts of the world.
It looks like you are having so much fun over there. And what amazing pictures I never knew the buildings, and architecture was so amazing. Please continue to share.
Thank you so much. I am having a blast. Can’t believe two years has gone by so fast and we are heading back to America soon to continue our travels of the American south and west coast as well as South America.
I’ve enjoyed reading your post! Village life is so quiet and peaceful, much better than the noise we suffer from every day. The clicks are beautiful, this is a must visit place for sure.
Thank you Muna. I appreciate your support. The small villages and towns are always more interesting to me.
I love learning about history and culture. I had not heard of this place and it would be really neat to visit it.
South Korea has tons of little known spots for visitors to enjoy.
This seems like a perfect getaway for my oldest daughter, who is pretty much obsessed with all things to do with the Asian cultures. Hopefully one day we’ll get to go do something like this together.
I hope so too. Its a very complicated set of many cultures which most people don’t think about too much. As you travel from one country to another one you see all the differences.
How fascinating! I would love to visit and experience this as well!
Thanks for stopping by and supporting my blog. Its nice to know there are people on the other end of the line. lol
This looks like a fantastic little gem! I especially love the look of the architecture – I’m I sucker for anything which character!
So much to take in, I find new things in my neighborhood still after two years of living here.