Embarking on an Enchanting Journey through Korea's Folk Village

On this day, I went to the Korean Folk Village located in Yongin! It's probably the most famous folk village in South Korea. Many historical dramas have been filmed here, so it's like a familiar backdrop in most sageuk dramas. I remember visiting this place a few times during my childhood with my parents and on school picnics. After a long time, I decided to revisit the Korean Folk Village to reminisce about the old memories and immerse myself in the charm of the Joseon era. As soon as you buy the entrance ticket at the front gate and step inside, you're greeted by the first "jumak" (a term for traditional Korean food stalls back in the Joseon era)! Right nearby, there's a place where you can rent beautiful "hanbok" dresses. It's such a lovely way to start your journey into the past!

Wearing a hanbok, the rental prices vary a bit depending on the grade. I think it was around 20,000 to 35,000 won to rent one for about 3-4 hours. When you step out all dolled up in the hanbok, you'll come across a colorful photo spot with lanterns, just like the one I uploaded. Taking a snap there is a must!

Dressed in the graceful hanbok, shall we embark on our authentic folk village tour? Actually, the village hosts various events and performances, but I missed most of them as I was hoping for a nighttime visit. Sad, I know. Nevertheless, I'm thinking of wandering around in this beautiful hanbok and capturing some lovely photos here and there!

Next, I explored the entire Folk Village. To be honest, I couldn't cover everything since some sections were closed due to the end of operating hours, and I didn't have enough time to see certain areas like the amusement park. However, I was able to admire various styles of traditional Korean houses, as well as beautifully adorned old-style bridges and other charming spots. I snapped away with my camera and phone, capturing photos and videos that perfectly complemented the lovely hanbok I was wearing!

As I wandered around the Folk Village, I began to feel hungry. Conveniently, as I crossed a bridge, I came across the "Jumak Village"! In the olden times, a "jumak" referred to a restaurant and lodging facility during the Joseon Dynasty. Typically found in thatched-roof houses, they offered simple meals like rice soup and savory pancakes, or even snacks to accompany drinks like makgeolli, a traditional Korean rice wine.

Interestingly, back then, after enjoying food and drinks, lodging was complimentary. What's unique is that unlike today where each guest has their own room, many people would stay together in a single large room. This concept made lodging more of a communal experience. At the Jumak Village in the Folk Village, they sold various foods and beverages. I ordered cockle bibimbap, seafood pancake, bibim naengmyeon (cold noodles), and the highlight of the day – makgeolli.

Normally, makgeolli has a milky white color, but at the Folk Village, I tried a purple-hued variety developed there. It seemed to be made from purple grains – a truly special experience. It felt like stepping into a Joseon-era jumak as I savored the makgeolli and the array of snacks!

The Korean Folk Village has been famous for its traditional Korean haunted house for a long time. I remember visiting it when I was younger, and while I couldn't explore much due to being quite scared, from what I recall, you would pass through a dimly lit set and encounter various Korean ghosts such as the virgin ghost, Mongdal ghost, and bachelor ghost at different points. In the past, other amusement parks also had Korean-style haunted houses, but they evolved into different types, while the Korean Folk Village remained true to its traditional haunted house concept. Over time, the ghost house at the Folk Village gained popularity among visitors.

Noticing this trend, the management of the Korean Folk Village responded by creating a more diverse and thrilling range of haunted houses. As you can see in the video above, there's a separate dressing room where during the day, people dress up in Joseon-era costumes to engage in events throughout the Folk Village. And at night, individuals dressed as ghosts roam around, setting a spine-chilling atmosphere!

Today, I shared my experience of visiting the Korean Folk Village with all of you. This is my first time blogging, so it might feel a bit awkward, but as I continue to explore various places in Korea, I promise to improve in delivering more engaging content to you all! Wishing you all a wonderful day ahead!