Take shelter from summer heat at central Seoul's Namsangol Hanok Village
Traditional Korean residential structures at Namsangol Hanok Village in central Seoul provide the perfect shelter from scorching summer heat. Together with traditional Korean confectioneries, spending time inside one of the rooms here takes visitors back centuries to old Korea. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
By Ko Dong-hwan
A popular hanok village at the heart of Seoul becomes a summer refuge in a traditional Korean style for those needing a respite during the hottest summer months.
Namsangol Hanok Village at the foot of Mount Nam will be reserved for pre-bookers during weekends from July 7 to Aug. 13, the Cultural Heritage Management Division under the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Culture Headquarters announced, Monday.
The annual opening of the city's heritage precinct to the public comes during a period traditionally believed to be the peak of summer. July 7 is still referred to as “Soseo,” meaning “minor heat.”
Hanok, a traditional Korean-style home, is a low-rise housing made of timber and topped off with voluminous roofing that uses hundreds of unique stone-carved Korean tiles called “giwa.” With the large roof effectively blocking the lower part of the house from sunlight, the interior rooms remain cool. Wooden floors and walls remain unaffected by the scorching sun and comfort those dwelling within them.
The special opening also serves traditional Korean delicacies. Organized by award-winning Korean foods expert Jeong Geum-mi, each individual serving has five distinguished dishes of bitesize treats ― rice cakes, confectioneries and fruits of sweet, crispy, chewy and sour characteristics.
The Namsangol vacation program opens to the public authentic hanok master rooms that were famously owned by the Yoon Clan of the 1392-1910 Joseon kingdom. Pre-bookers can occupy the rooms themselves. Sets of different traditional Korean games are in each room for visitors to play.
Describing hanok as “unfamiliar yet friendly,” the city government said sitting down on a cool floor watching Cheonghakji Pond and the mountain behind is an experience of the “real beauty of hanok” in summer.
Because Namsangol is situated in central Seoul, the heritage site boasts urban characteristics alongside the traditional, according to an official from the Cultural Heritage Management Division.
“Namsangol vacation program has been Seoul's most popular summer hanok event that sells out instantly after the ticketing begins,” said Kim Hong-jin, head of the division. “We hope people take a unique vacation at the hanok village and overcome this year's summer heat. This is how our Korean ancestors had endured the summer using their wits and traditions.”