Whenever I visit Korea, one of the most unique and distinctive things I notice are the standard, typical rectangle apartment and store buildings of the city mixed in with traditional Korean architecture often called “Hanok” or “Joseon” houses after the Joseon dynasty where this style flourished. Notably, the Joseon dynasty was under the reign of King Sejong who is best known for creating Hangul, the Korean script used today. This dynasty was the pinnacle of Korean culture and was considered a “Golden Era” under King Sejong.
As seen in the picture, there are often small villages of these hanok houses within the city or in the countryside which enables people to experience both modern and traditional Korea at the same time. The city villages especially stand out because big Korean cities like Seoul are densely populated and buildings are built narrow and tall to accommodate as many people and stores as possible. However, the wide Hanok villages occupy their own space in the city.
Some of these hanok villages, like Namsangol Hanok Village in Seoul are just recreations and models of these houses made for tourism and educational purposes. However, many of the villages, like Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul are traditional houses that have been restored and function as an actual neighborhood with people living within the houses. These real residential hanok villages are also open to tourism, but there are signs posted advising tourists to walk quietly so as to not disturb the residents.
Korean architecture contains many influences from Chinese architecture. During the era of the three kingdoms Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla, (around 50 B.C.) temples and palaces were built based upon Chinese buddhist temples and pagodas which set the foundation for this style of architecture. However, the architecture has evolved over the years by blending different cultures, aesthetics, and aspects of Korea’s rich history. A notable distinction of Korean architecture from other styles is the use of roofs called “dancheong” which are made of wood, clay, or stone tiles and curved upwards at the edges. This distinctive architecture was most prominent in the Joseon Dynasty where elegant dancheong roofs were seen on most residential houses and clay was used to produce a unique style that was more earthy and naturalistic.
When I visited Korea, I got to go to the Bukcheon Hanok Village in Jongno. Since it is open to tourism, many foreigners and tourists are seen walking around the village in Korean traditional clothes called “hanbok,” which are available for rent all around the village. These renting shops also provide hair and makeup services to create complete and authentic outfits and provide an enriching experience while viewing the traditional houses. There are also retro candy stores around that gave my grandparents a sense of nostalgia from their childhood.
Although Korea is one of the most quickly urbanizing and technologically advanced countries in the world, the preservation of historical architecture shows that there are many efforts being made to preserve the rich traditional history of the nation. I also think that opening the space up for tourism and providing tourists with planned tours, pamphlets, and authentic traditional clothes is very informative for those who are being introduced to Korean culture.
Comments