Hanok: Your Summer Paradise!

Translated from: http://www.imaeil.com/sub_news/sub_news_view.php?news_id=32001&yy=2010

image from: visitkorea.or.kr

Hanok, the Paradise of Summer Vacation! 

Harmony of nature and tradition

     "It was fantastic and very special experience.”

     Alan Smith (33·England·English Teacher), who spent summer vacation in Gyeongju, could not forget last one day night. He spent one night at one of Hanok in Gyeongju which is mostly used by foreign backpackers and also experienced the Korea traditional lodge culture. He was amazed by the cool hanok though there is no air conditioner inside.

     He said, “I like the inexpensive price of it. I feel regret because I only spent 1 day in Hanok during my 10 days vacation so I am planning to do only Hanok trip in the next vacation.”

Traditional Korean House (Hanok) is opened to be accommodation and vacation spot during summer vacation. As a holiday resort, Hanok is gaining popularity with not only Korean people but also foreigner where they can experience the life of the ancestors, various cultural performances, and also experience some programs as well.

Especially in Gyeongbuk province, the Hanok accomodation facilities are overwhelming until it is called as the Mecca of Hanok experience. There are 207 places of hanok in all parts of the country that have been registered in Korea Tourism Organization as Hanok experience business. Among of them, more than one-third (85 places) are located in Gyeongbuk. Being nominated as Confucian culture area, the northern part of Gyeongbuk like Andong and Yeongju; and also Gyeongju which was the ancient capital of Silla, have frequent contacts with foreigner.

According to Gyeongbukdo Province, the amount of tourists who used Hanok experience agency last year, increased 48.8% to 68,376 people (5011 foreigners) compared to year 2008 that was 45,937 people. It is estimated that this year will be around 80,000 people.

     There are hotel style Hanok that ask price from 400,000~600,000 won and old guesthouse style Hanok that ask 20,000 won per night but for family standard price is 100,000 won. The attraction of Hanok experience is the experience of Korea native’s board and lodging tradition and the nature eco-friendly places. Especially in the old guesthouse style Hanok, because it is possible to learn Korean traditional manners, traditional music instruments, mask dance, tea ceremony, and other traditional culture performances, the popularity is high. Also, because there is excellent nature environment in the surroundings, it is possible to do tracking, rafting, and other group activities that can be done in half a day.

     Because the popularity of Hanok is high, reservation is a must thing to do before coming. The leading Hanok experience business like Andong Jirye Yesul town, Yeongju Seonbi town, and so on, reported "You have to reserve at least 2 weeks before the day.”

     Traditional Hanok tourism assets are also happening one after another. In case of Andong, more than 20 places of Hanok that will become accommodation facilities have been requested to be remodeled and repaired last year. Including Pungcheon-myeon Aechunjae, 8 places have also been selected as traditional Hanok tourism assets object.

     Jang Hak Gon, the representative of Gyeongbukdo Province Tourism Development said, “The inquiries of Hanok tourism asset are steady. The demands of Hanok as a tourist spot have reached the growing point and the cultural experience program is focusing on Confucian culture experience and so on.

Kim Tae Jin Reporter jiny@msnet.co.kr

◇Amount of Hanok visitors in Gyeongbukdo Province (unit: people)

Year 2006 31,499

Year 2007 33,638

Year 2008 45,937

Year 2009 68,376

Year 2010 80,000 (estimation)