Korean Folk Village

For those who don’t have the time to visit the Hahoe Maeul, in Andong or Nagan-eup-seong near Suncheon right down south, Korean Folk Village near Suwon is the most convenient introduction one can get to the lives of Koreans in the past.

 Pretty pavilion beside a wishing tree in KFV

An open-air museum of sorts, the KFV gives visitors a vivid impression of what life was like in Korea during the Joseon Dynasty.

Greet the wooden guardians which protect the village

There are various houses ranging from a humble peasant’s cottage to an aristocrat’s mansion, an array of shops with wares ranging from traditional medicine to straw sandals.

Rustic traditions kept alive here; wonder if the beast is on the KFV payroll

See for yourself the difference between the northern and southern styles of traditional home architecture. Observe craftsmen at work making pots, horseshoes, ropes and paper the traditional way.

Dried calabashes, corn, fermented soybean bricks, red peppers - staples of a bygone era

Check out the various foot bridges which span the stream hugging the eastern side of the KFV. Satisfy your curiosity about what a Korean haunted house looks like and visit the local female shaman.

 This footbridge is one of easiest ones to cross; there are others which test your balance!

Get married the traditional Korean way in KFV - serious. But book in advance!

Keep a lookout for your favourite Hallyu star as this place is a popular shooting location for K historical drama.

Some Suggestions:

1. Getting there – click here.

2. Be prepared to spend more than half the day there – work out a walking route around the scheduled performances ( wedding ceremony, acrobats, samul-nori, horse riding).

 Don't miss this - Samulnori performances - one of the highlights of KFV

Check out the map on the KFV website.

source: http://www.koreanfolk.co.kr/folk/english/guide/guide_sche.html

3. There used to be a two tier pricing system - the cheaper one didn’t include admission to the amusement park side but if you were visiting with children, you probably had to go for the pricier option. Looks that the option's no longer available from the looks of the current ticketing scheme on the KFV website though the KNTO website displays the older ticketing schedule ( I'm guessing the KNTO page needs updating!)

12,000 won (adults), 9,000 won ( adolescents and seniors), 8,000 won (child)

4. Read up on the various sections in the KFV website before you go. The information brochure which you get when you buy your ticket doesn’t give as much and the explanatory boards are sketchy.

5. KBS World Radio video on KFV – juxtaposes old photos from its archives with present day video shots.

Snacks on sale in the open-air marketplace

6. Note that the food stalls in the open-air market section are tucked right at the back and there’s a long walk to get there, so if you tend to feel peckish throughout the day, carry your own snacks and water.

7. KFV has been the outdoor location site for various dramas such as Daejanggeum and Painter of the Wind.

sources:
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/culturenlife/culturenlife_touringkorea_detail.htm?No=436
http://www.koreanfolk.co.kr/folk/english/contact/contact_tran.html
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/South_Korea/Soul_tukpyolsi/Seoul-1058426/Things_To_Do-Seoul-Korean_Folk_Village-BR-2.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Folk_Village
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264121

Korean Cultural Village

The Korean Folk Village near Suwon is usually considered a pretty good introduction to traditional life particularly for those who can't spare the time to explore the real deals such as Hahoe Village, Andong or Nagan-eupseong Village near Suncheon.

I had visited KFV way before I went to the other two places so my response was more favourable than it would've been if it had been the other way round. Liked the variety of footbridges across the stream which flanked one side of the village. Also remembered the elderly gentleman at the paper-making mill who patiently demonstrated his skills and the impressive performances of the nori players. It was mildly interesting to observe from a distance a film crew at work, shooting another historical drama but aside from all that, I'm sorry to say I don't really remember that much of KFV.

A pity I hadn't checked out its useful website before making my visit. Click here for a KBS World Radio video clip that covers other entertaining aspects. For more information about admission charges, opening times and transportation link, click here.