Seoul Searching | Bukchon Hanok Village.

Don't you just love long weekends?
I, for one, love it because I can stay up late and catch up on my Kdramas. I don't have to wake up early the next day, and instead of fixing breakfast, we can just head over to the nearest McD's and have brunch. Oh, and long weekends also give me the chance to update my blog and catch up on my writing backlogs. Just like what I'm doing right now. :)

Let me continue with my Seoul Searching series (because you know, we're not even halfway through) on the day we visited Bukchon Hanok Village. In an old blog post from 2014, I listed this as one of the must-see places in Korea. Little did I know that one year later - on Christmas Eve, to be exact - we would actually be setting foot in this picturesque neighborhood.

'Twas pretty cold that day, so I made sure Yue and I were all bundled up. And because I didn't want Yue to be out in the cold for too long while waiting for the next bus to arrive, we decided to take a cab all the way to Jongno, where the Bukchon Hanok Village is located.

Oh yes, it was freezing that day.

If I remember correctly, our cab fare was around 8000 won. Riding a bus and using the subway would be much cheaper, but it's a tad difficult when you're not very familiar with the subway lines AND you have a kid in tow. (If you're taking the subway, get off at Anguk Station Line 3 Exit 2.)

Three layers of clothing was the minimum. For me, at least.

But at least we got there in no time.

Hello, Hanok! 

The beauty of Bukchon after the jump!
A historic village that dates back to almost 600 years, this place is home to hundreds of traditional houses called 'hanoks' that were prominent during the Joseon Dynasty. Made of clay, wood, and stone, hanoks are typically single-story structures that have heated floors and curved tile roofs.

What a sight to behold.

You'd be surprised to know that despite being 'primitive' in construction, these hanoks are actually designed to be earthquake-proof. The house posts, called 'daedulbo', are not inserted into the ground. Instead, they're fitted into the cornerstones, thus making the hanok safe from earthquakes.

Hanoks - built to last.

During the Joseon Dynasty, the Bukchon Hanok Village was home to many royal families, aristocrats, wealthy citizens, and government officials. In the 1960s, the village was set for renovation, which would have meant the destruction or relocation of many of the hanok buildings.

Rows and rows of roofs.

However, the area was spared by the government, thanks to the local residents who loved the village and made protests against the renovation. While many other areas in Seoul have been modernized and are now packed with high-rise buildings and posh apartments, the Bukchon Hanok Village has stayed surprisingly untouched and retained its historic charm.

Of alleys and pathways.

And while some of the hanoks here are used as tea houses, restaurants, and souvenir shops, the village is still pretty much a residential area. And a quiet one, at that. Guests and tourists are requested to keep their noise to a minimum.

Sssh! :)

Bukchon Museum.
Inside, you can rent a hanbok for picture-taking purposes.
We didn't go in since Yue has his own hanbok at home.

Outside one of the souvenir shops in the area.

The facade of one of the restaurants in the area.

Yue took this photo, too. :)

I love how pretty and poignant this village is. Yue loved the place too, but he wasn't too happy with all the walking that we did. Especially the uphill walking. Haha!

The only way is up. LOL!

As a word of caution, make sure you wear your most comfortable shoes when you visit Bukchon. My boots were comfortable enough, considering that it was freezing that day. But if it was a different season, say spring, I would have opted for sneakers instead.

At Bukchon, Yue learned how to take pictures with my spiffy Samsung Note 5. :)

Now can you see our next destination? Yep, it's that palace out there. 

The view from above.

Bukchon Hanok Village

37, Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea 
Tel: +82 2 3707 8388