Korean Folk Village

Minsok village (Korean Folk Village) is a living museum type of tourist attraction in the city of Yongin, a satellite city in the Seoul Metropolitan Area in the province of Gyeonggi in South Korea. It was first opened on October 3rd,1974 (ground breaking in 1973 and completion in 1974). Korean Folk Village is a popular tourist destination for both Koreans and foreigners, located near South Korea's largest amusement park, Everland.

Korean Folk Village
A performance of the farmers' dance at Korean Folk Village
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationHanguk Minsokchon
McCune–ReischauerHan'guk Minsokch'on
Horseback martial arts at Korean Folk Village

Real houses from across the country were relocated and restored to create a replica of a village from the late Joseon period. Events such as celebrating seasonal changes and traditional performances are held in KFV. The village is set up in a natural environment occupying approximately 245 acres. Over 260 traditional houses reminiscent of the late Joseon Dynasty can be found there. The purpose of the Korean Folk Village is to display elements of traditional Korean life and culture. There are multiple sections to the park, including numerous replicas of traditional houses of the different social classes (peasant, landowner, yangban) from various regions.

History

The Korean Folk Village was the first open-air museum constructed in South Korea.[1] Building of the Korean Folk Village began as a way to preserve traditional Korean culture and customs, including traditional Korean architecture, food, and clothing in response to the rapid westernisation and industrialisation of Korea during the 1960s.[1] The village's buildings have either been restored or relocated from other provinces around Korea.[2]

Living culture experience

Inside the folk village, staff members dress up in distinctive costumes depicting several characters from the Joseon Dynasty such as Sato (the governors), Daejanggeum (a royal of the palace), Kumiho (legendary fox with nine tails), Geosang (business magnate), etc.[3]

There are typically four cultural performances available to watch: Nong-ak play, tightrope play, horseback martial art play, and a traditional wedding. These performances are played at each stage twice a day.[4] Moreover, the folk village offers other cultural experiences including:[5]

  • Ferry
  • Horseback riding
  • Natural dyeing experience
  • Traditional life experience
  • Family park performance
  • Main performance

The village consists of Joseon period houses and workshops, where visitors can enjoy the architectural characteristics of the Joseon dynasty and experience traditional crafts.

Traditional wedding ceremonies are also held here.

Flog experience at Korean Folk Village

Location, access and facilities

The village is accessible by subway and bus:

  • Gangnam Station: 5001-1 (10th gate, red bus, fare: 2100 won), 1560.
  • Suwon Station: v10-5, v37, Korean Folk village shuttle bus (using a travel bureau at Suwon station).
  • Sanggal Station: 30, 54, 10-5, 37 (Get off for Nagok Village).
  • Miguem Station: 30, (shuttle bus)

There is a free shuttle bus that runs between Korean Folk Village and Suwon station. Round trip takes about 30 minutes.

There is a ticket fee needed for admission into the Korean Folk Village.

pass Free pass
Adult individual 18,000 won 27,000 won
group 15,000 won 21,000 won
Teenager individual 15,000 won 22,000 won
group 13,000 won 19,000 won
Child individual 13,000 won 20,000 won
group 11,000 won 17,000 won

Facilities

The facilities in the park cater towards the visitor's needs; entertainment, service and food. They consist of a traditional street market, restaurants, and showcases of traditional woodworking and metalworking techniques. Also, traditional dances, equestrian skills, and marriage ceremonies are performed at different locations around the park. Several arts and crafts shops with food produced by local artisans, recreational activities, and an ample selection of places to eat can be found as well.

The amusement park section has rides and games, an art museum, a sculpture garden, a Korean Folk Museum, and a World Folk Museum which highlights traditional lifestyles from around the world.

The village was used as a filming location for Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) 2012 drama Moon Embracing the Sun as local markets, private residences of commoners, and night scenes.[6]

There are various exhibition halls that provide a broadened view of the folk culture:

  • Nine world folk exhibition hall (860 cultural artefacts).
  • One earth ware exhibition hall (3,000 or so cultural artefacts).
  • One masked dance exhibition hall (30 cultural artefacts).

Food and Shopping

Snack bars can be found in the food market, also known as Jumak, where visitors can enjoy various types of Korean food. These include sweet ice-cream, Winibini candy (also known as Weeny Beeny), Railroad hotdog and Imsil cheese pizza.

There are also a variety of traditional tea houses and play village restaurants which visitors can experience. Such as the Herbal medicine shop, Traditional tea house, Railroad and Minsok Banjeom, Eight folk village shops and Souvenir and ateliers.

Attraction

Several attraction sites of the village include bumper cars, Music express, Biking, Family Costa, Boat ride, Bounce spin, and Sled slope in winter.

Festival

Welcome to Joseon

The cultural theme park of Korean Folk Village hosts the “Welcome to Joseon” Variety Festival each spring.[7] An exotic program that is presented by distinctive Joseon-period characters who appear in ancient fairy tales and stories. During the festival, visitors are encouraged to directly engage with the cultural performances, allowing them to travel back in time and experience a daily life in the Joseon period.[8]

  • Traditional houses
  • Equestrian skills displayed
  • A tightrope walker
  • A farmer
  • Korean scarecrow

See also

References
  1. Maeng, In-Jae (2018). "The Korean Folk Village". Museum International. 38: 40–42 – via Taylor & Francis Online.
  2. Anderson, Michael (2004). "Korean Folk Village is Old-Fashioned Oasis in a Fast-Forward City". YON - Yonhap News Agency of Korea. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  3. Park, Haemook (2015-10-16). "Dreams in Korean Folk Village". Korea Herald.
  4. Choi, Yoonhee (2015-09-09). "Various performances at Korean folk village".
  5. Keum, Bitna (2015-07-22). "Changes in Korean folk village among 41 years". MBN.
  6. "Korean TV Drama: The Moon Embracing the Sun". Korea Tourism Organization. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
  7. Herald, The Korea (2018-05-10). "[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights around Korea". Retrieved 2018-05-13.
  8. "Description of Events | Korean folk village". www.koreanfolk.co.kr. Retrieved 2018-05-13.

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