Post: 5 picturesque Korean villages

Rapid industrialization of South Korea in the 60-80s. The 20th century was accompanied by an improvement in the standard of living of Koreans. Living in cities became more fun a little faster than in the countryside. Partly to speed up this process in rural areas as well, President Park Chung-hee launched the New Village Movement initiative.

A by-product of industrialization, urbanization and the president’s initiative was the rapid disappearance of backward, from an everyday point of view, but so pleasing to our eyes elements of the rural East Asian landscape: thatched roofs, old houses, large villages. They were replaced by more modern, but also more “standard” houses, asphalt roads and driveways inside villages and towns...

Koreans, in principle, are sometimes prone to such “swings” and extremes. But still, patriarchal thatch and tile roofs can still be found in the modern landscape of South Korea; and in special, state-protected villages - in large and picturesque quantities!

The tile and thatch roofs of the village are especially visible from the neighboring hill, located on the opposite bank of the Naktong River from the village.

This village is perhaps the most famous outside of Korea: the famous performance - the Mask Dance - attracts as many guests to the village as the wonderful pastoral views. Among the guests, by the way, was Queen Elizabeth II, who celebrated her birthday here in 1999.

In 2010, the village became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nagan Eupseong (the word "upseong" means "county fortress") is surrounded by a fortress wall, which contributes to the unique look of Nagan Eupseong. In 1626, General Im Gyeongop, appointed magistrate of Nagan County, built a stone fortress, which has survived to this day.

In addition to residential buildings, the community of the village also maintains several buildings left without owners, in which you can get acquainted with folk instruments, rituals, etc. In addition, in the village you will find the magistrate's house, public buildings, memorials, which have already become museum exhibits.

We recommend that you take a walk along the fortress wall: you are provided with magnificent photographs of houses with thatched roofs!

Yangdong Village is famous for its beautiful hanok houses. Hanok is a traditional Korean house (in fact, the word "hanok" means "Korean house"). Houses are generally designed to blend in with the natural environment and often have beautiful gardens.

Yangdong Village was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with Hahoe Village in 2010. This recognition highlights the historical and cultural significance of the village.

Overall, Yangdong Village's distinctive features lie in its well-preserved architecture, UNESCO World Heritage status, and rich Confucian culture and traditions, making it a treasured cultural and historical site in South Korea.

This village is located in Gyeongju (in this case, the name is used to refer to the administrative region, and not just the area of the ancient capital of the state of Shilla).

A unique village located in South Korea, but north of the 38th parallel. If you are going to visit the cottages of the first president of the Republic of Korea and, attention, the first leader of the DPRK, do not forget to look into this secluded village, which has been preserved (due to its privacy and the protection of the surrounding mountains) in its original form.

The village was founded thanks to the loyalty of one citizen of the state of Goryeo, Mr. Ham, who, in protest, settled far from the new capital - modern Seoul.

The harsh northern style, solitude, proximity to the sea, 600-year history - the unique features of the village, for which it is worth making a trip to the very northeast of Gangwon-do!

Thatched and tiled roofs, roosters and seals, a 600-year-old zelkova tree, bamboo, persimmon, and rice fields...

The old-style pastoral village is real. Here and now, ordinary Korean residents live, are engaged in rice growing and ancient crafts, periodically arrange traditional festivals such as Changseung-jae (the festival of the village guardian totem) or Chippul - literally - "rice straw festival", which, however, is dedicated to the famous inhabitant of this villages of I Ganu, whose pseudonym coincides with the name of the village - Veam.

The basis of the village is made up of residents (men) with the surname Yi (Li), from the Yean clan, the most famous of which is the already mentioned Yi Gan. Villages in which the heads of families have the same surname become a symbol of the Joseon era and the neo-Confucian ideology, which was also reflected in the life of Koreans.

If you're heading to Togo's famous hot springs in Asana for a bone warmer, we recommend you make time for this picturesque village too!