Bukchon Hanok Village

Bukchon Hanok Village, authentic Seoul

The Seoul audio-guided tour leads you to the most authentic part of the city, Bukchon Hanok Village. More than six hundred years old, this preserved district presents the typically Korean houses called hanok, nestled between the great palaces of the capital.

A district of Joseon dynasty aristocrats

Hanok houses are not designed by chance: they respect Korean traditions, positioned according to the environment and the seasons, and built of natural materials, stone, wood, earth and rice paper, with a concern for harmony between man and nature. Built under the Joseon dynasty from the fourteenth century, the district then housed the great aristocrats of the city in its some nine hundred hanok houses. It is located between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces and the Jongmyo shrine.

What there is to see

Very lively in all seasons, this village within the city is full of small shops, restaurants and cafés set up in the traditional houses. There are also several museums, including Asian and Korean art galleries. The narrow, steep alleys, lined with curved roofs, offer superb views of the modern city in the background. A photogenic setting full of history.

Practical information

Bukchon Hanok Village is in the north of central Seoul, between the great palaces and the Jongmyo shrine. The district can be walked freely. As it is an inhabited district, visitors are asked to respect the residents' peace and quiet. The shops and museums follow their own opening hours.

What is a hanok house?

It is a traditional Korean house, built of natural materials and positioned according to the environment and the seasons, in the search for harmony between man and nature.

How old is the Bukchon district?

More than six hundred years old, it was built under the Joseon dynasty from the fourteenth century to house the great aristocrats of the city.