Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
Cho Chung-il redefines tradition with Korea’s largest hanok resort
The Hanok Heritage Chairperson Cho Chung-il speaks during a CICI forum at the Italian ambassador's residence in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of CICI
By Park Jin-hai
Cho Chung-il, CEO of fintech company KONA I and founder of The Hanok Heritage, took an unconventional path from studying physics and building a tech empire to establishing one of Korea’s most ambitious luxury hanok resorts to showcase the country's traditional architecture.
Driven by an appreciation for the architectural heritage he encountered during his travels across the globe, Cho turned his decades-long fascination with hanok into a real-world project. The result is a high-end resort in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, that harmonizes timeless Korean aesthetics with modern spatial innovation.
Reflecting on Korea’s urban landscape, where hanok are increasingly rare, Cho said he launched the project 13 years ago with the goal of building a “proper hanok.”
“I made a living in digital technology all my life. But I believe digital is ultimately a copy of analog. Since human senses are analog, the more advanced the digital world becomes, the more people feel nostalgic for analog. That’s why I believed such analog cultural spaces would become important," Cho said during a Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) forum at the Italian ambassador's residence in Seoul, Tuesday.
The Hanok Heritage in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province / Courtesy of The Hanok Heritage
"Moreover, no matter where you travel, what truly moves people are spaces imbued with a nation’s history and culture.”
To overcome challenges posed by traditional building methods, Cho and his team developed advanced techniques and incorporated modern materials. By using microwave drying to stabilize moisture-sensitive wood and substituting fragile clay with durable, dry-processed alternatives, they preserved the beauty of hanok while ensuring the resort’s structures can withstand the passage of time.
Spanning a vast 530,000-square-meter site and backed by a 300 billion won investment, The Hanok Heritage stands as Korea's largest hanok-style resort with three buildings. In 2024, it won the first place in the hotel category at the Versailles Architecture Awards, jointly organized by UNESCO and the International Union of Architects.
Cho believes hanok should be gently placed within nature.
"Any space, whether a room or a bathroom, should embrace nature so that one feels as if staying within nature itself. The design concept draws nature indoors visually and sensorially. It’s not only visually beautiful but also a space designed to engage the senses with the scent of wood and pleasant sounds," he said.
The Hanok Heritage Chairperson Cho Chung-il, second row third from right, poses with other guests during a CICI forum held at the Italian ambassador’s residence in Seoul, Tuesday. They include CICI President Choi Jung-wha, second row second from right, and Italian Ambassador to Korea Emilia Gatto, second row second from left. Courtesy of CICI
Cho now dreams of bringing hanok architecture into the heart of Seoul, envisioning a hanok street zone where locals and international visitors alike can experience the beauty and serenity of traditional Korean homes.
“I’m carefully scouting for the right site. My vision is to immerse [visitors] in the beauty of hanok architecture and, if the opportunity arises, to share the rich cultural heritage of hanok with the world,” he explained.
Italian Ambassador to Korea Emilia Gatto described hanok as "slow architecture," and said that Cho’s philosophy — centered on the harmony between space and human experience, longing for analog living and the fulfillment of all five senses — can resonate in Italy, as well.
"It really narrates Korea," she said, going on to describe the architectural style as part of Korea's rich cultural heritage and identity.
Khaled Abdel Rahman, the Eyptian ambassador to Korea who is about to finish his term here, said he was always interested in hanok for its structure built without any kind of cement, comparing it to his country's house building structure using only stones.
"One of the things that I want to do before leaving Korea is to stay in a hanok, which shows its culture. So this is a very good opportunity," Rahman said.
Frantz Hotton, CEO of Pernod Ricard, said he often tries to stay in a hanok to soak in Korea's culture.
"The key lies in adapting Korean culture into a five-star experience that meets today’s standards rather than clinging only to the past. We need these people that are beyond entrepreneurship trying to invest for the future, so that this generation can experience a new version of the culture," Hotton said.