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An elderly woman walks by a stone wall path in Oeam Village, Oeam-ri, Songak-myeon in Asan, South Chungcheong Province. A designated cultural property, Important Folklore Material No. 236, Oeam Village has a 5,300-meter-long stonewall path dotted with houses.
/ Korea Times Photos by Shim Hyun-chul |
 By Shim Hyun-chul
Staff Reporter
One's heart feels purified when he or she visits Asan's Oeam Village, which exudes old, rustic charm. Boasting a tradition of more than 400 years, the stonewall paths ringing the village heighten its flair.
Situated to the southwest of Mt. Seolhwa, Oeam Village was, since the early Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), home to Siheung Station, where travelers fed their horses. The village was thus called ``Oyanggol'' and eventually became known as Oeam.
After crossing a small creek, one arrives at the village entrance, which is marked by a small pagoda and pine forest. Along the pathway, a stonewall spanning over 5 kilometers connects each of the some 60 houses.
The village has been there for generations, providing a colorful new historical experience that's difficult to find in a museum.
Most of the houses are ``chogajip'' or thatched cottages, while 10 or so are ``giwajip,'' or tile-roofed noblemen's houses typical of the style of central Korea. The traditional houses date back about 100 to 200 years. Designated Historical Areas in 1988, they became national cultural property, Important Folklore Material No. 236, in January 2000.
Among them, the Yeongam, Songhwa and Champan residences are very famous. The Yeongam residence is home to one of the most beautiful Joseon gardens. Small, simple and rustic, it features a crane-shaped creek whereby water flows from Mt. Seolhwa.
The village's beauty has attracted movie and TV drama shoots, including Im Kwon-taek's Cannes Best Director Award-winning film ``Chihwaseon'' and the blockbuster epic ``Tae-guk-gi.''
Oeam Maul offers not only visual stimulation but home-stays as well, and visitors can try a hand at farming and spend a night in a traditional ``hanok.''. For more information, visit www.oeammaul.co.kr or call (041) 541-0804.
shim@koreatimes.co.kr
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"北 GPS공격 중단시점, 中이 알게된 때와 같아"
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