Bukchon Hanok Village - a historic village in Seoul, Korea

Bukchon Hanok Village is a historic village dating back almost 600 years to the Joseon Dynasty which features hanok or Korean traditional houses. Bukchon means “northern village.” The quaint residential village lies in a hilly neighborhood north of Cheonggyecheon Stream and between two royal palaces, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace.

A hanok is an traditional wooden house that were at a time found all over Korea. Over time, the old style buildings have been replaced by newer concrete structures. Bukchon Hanok Village is one of the only places in the country where the traditional history of Korea can be found.

Although Bukchon Hanok Village is Seoul's representative hanok village, it is home to many average Seoulites. Unlike other folk villages, Bukchon Hanok Village was not built to be a tourist attraction. The area is a residential neighborhood where people actually live.

In recent years, the charms of traditional hanok have been receiving increased attention. With recently-opened hanok galleries, craft workshops and hanok restaurants, a new kind of hanok culture is developing in Bukchon Hanok Village.

I highly recommend you to spend few hours in the afternoon here in Bukchon Hanok Village. Between the photo opportunities and all the activities, it's definitely a neat, culturally infused way to learn more about Korea's past.