A match made in Heaven where hyped cafes, museums and galleries seem to coexist perfectly: here’s Bukchon Hanok Village for you!

                                                                                       Seoul Bukchon Hanok Village ©이로운뉴스 레아(Lea) 기자

Whether you’ve been in Seoul for a few years or a few days, there is no way you didn’t hear about the Bukchon Hanok Village. In the center of Seoul in Jongno-gu, right in the middle of the main palaces, it is like people (foreigners as well as the locals) can never get enough of the traditional vibe mixed with today’s Seoul modernness.

As old as 600 years, this neighborhood serves as a reminder of how life was back in the Joseon dynasty (for the elite at least). The hanoks were all re-built in modern architecture during the 1930s thanks to a real estate developer (정세권) who wished to preserve the architecture and the cultural importance of the hanoks.

As mentioned earlier, Bukchon is a must see. Seoul being Seoul, new cafes and original places keep opening every day, so it is hard to keep an updated list of all the recommended locations, but let us walk together and add some addresses you might have missed (or to add to your future to-do list!):

– Korean Food Promotion Institute + The Sool Gallery 서울 종로구 북촌로 18 for traditional food and alcohol, from classes to museum and activities! (specialized workshops may include some fees but most of the programs, exhibitions and cooking classes are free of charge)

-Bukchon Traditional Culture Center 서울 종로구 계동길 37 북촌문화센터 should be your first stop on your way up! (all free for the visiting part, the workshops may require some fees)

-Korean Traditional Doors and Windows Class at Sungsim Arts and Crafts 서울 종로구 북촌로6길 27 (for any inquiry on the price of the classes and for reservations: 02-715-3342 or cwsbseoul@naver.com)

-JINJOOSHELL Mother-of-pearl store, gallery and craft experience 서울 종로구 북촌로 42-3 1층, B1 (the price for the workshop is around 30.000KRW and the shop bears items with a price range from 5$ to 90$ and up)

-Corea Museum of Art a private museum on Korean’s ceramics and also a café 서울 종로구 삼청로 71-5로 (the museum entry is free)

출처 : 이로운뉴스

                                                             북촌문화센터, Bukchon Traditional Culture Center ©이로운뉴스 레아(Lea) 기자

For those who would go to Bukchon Hanok Village for the first time, here are some advices:

As the village is a residential area, please be respectful, try to limit the volume of your voice and remember, don’t do what you wouldn’t do at home! Victim of its own success, some regulations on time of visit have been ensured in some alleyways, allowing the residents a breath of fresh air in between large groups of tourists between 5 p.m and 10 a.m. Be careful and don’t overstay!

If you are wondering if this neighborhood is accessible for people in wheelchairs or the elderly, my answer would be that it is not. Though, nothing is impossible and as long as you stay on the main roads, anyone can enjoy Bukchon! Kindly note that the nearest subway station (Anguk Station) is at the entry of the village and it might be difficult to find a low-floor bus among those who operate in the vicinity (maeul buses). Don’t forget to check the Accessible Tourism Seoul Danurim website for more information on the accessibility of Seoul.

On the other hand, there are quite a lot of public restrooms and (you’ll be happy to hear!) as many garbage cans on the way.

If you don’t have time to visit but still want to make a stop, why not grab a Ttareungi on the way? There are a few stations on the way to the Bukchon Hanok Village where you rent the public bikes for around 1.000KRW to 5.000KRW depending on how many hours you’ll use it.

As everywhere in Seoul, you won’t necessarily need cash to browse the stores in the Bukchon area, but do remember that some street vendors only accept bank transfers (or cash), which, if you are only visiting momentarily, you ’t use. No worries if you didn’t bring any cash as you’ll find many convenience stores with ATM on your way.

For some streets you absolutely need to stroll, one would be Gamgodang-gil (감고당길) with the prettiest stone walls around. If you began your adventure with Bukchon and went up all the way to the curve of the Cheongwadae-ro (청와대로), by all means, stay on it! You are actually walking alongside the Gyeongbokgung Palace!

Now, I know some of us are perfectionists and planners, so I only imagine you’d want to visit every shop and museum and maybe you are also slowly drowning in your own lists… but here is my final advice: get lost and explore!

출처 : 이로운뉴스(https://www.erounews.kr)