Recent Books

Looking for Korean Traditional Villages

Han Pil-won; Humanist: 520 pp., 28,000 won

Since the Korean folk villages of Hahoe and Yangdong were designated UNESCO World Heritage sites last year, interest in the traditional sites is mounting.

The author and architect has researched the traditional villages for 26 years since 1985. The book is the outcome of his efforts to discover the philosophy and principles that are reflected in the Korean folk villages, getting away from the Western standards of architecture.

The book looks at 12 villages from four different perspectives ― thoughts, culture, society and environment ― to display time-honored values.

The writer elaborates on how the past generations in Otgol, Hangae and Nakan villages made a good use of space and structure while Seongeup, Hahoe and Ganggol villages have different cultural aspects. Yangdong, Dorae and Daksil villages show distinctive Neo-Confucian lifestyles whereas Weonteo, Oeam and Wanggok villagers live a particularly harmonious life with nature.

The folk villages support communication and solidarity among community members and abide by the ultimate solutions of sharing.

The book shows the true relationships between architecture, land and humanity and a new paradigm for future residence lifestyles.

_ Chung Ah-young