KOREAN FOLK VILLAGE and HWASEONG FORTRESS TOUR

• DAY TOUR
• HISTORY
• HWASEONG FORTRESS
• KOREAN FOLK VILLAGE

KOREAN FOLK VILLAGE

KOREAN FOLK VILLAGE and HWASEONG FORTRESS are located at SUWON city, which is 37 Km, or 23 miles away from Seoul. But, if you take public transportation, you can come back to Seoul late evening because there is no direct bus, or subway. For example, it will take another 1 hour from SUWON STATION to KOREA FOLK VILLAGE by public bus.

KOREAN FOLK VILLAGE is a kind of theme park hosting old houses, lifestyles, performances of JOSEON dynasty (100-500 years ago). Therefore, you will feel like a folk walking around the real old village.

Some people would advise the tourists; “You don’t need to go to KOREAN FOLK VILLAGE because you can visit NAMSANGOL HANOK VILLAGE nearby MYEONGDONG.” This is partly true. But, because NAMSANGOL HANOK VILLAGE is the collection of few old houses, which were moved somewhere on the occasion of demolishment, we don’t think this place is comparable to KOREAN FOLK VILLAGE.

Most of all, KOREAN FOLK VILLAGE has the story (e.g., jail, pharmacy), and performances (e.g., NONGAK music, wedding ceremony) whereas NAMSANGOL HANOK VILLAGE doesn’t have.

HWASEONG FORTRESS

After looking around KOREAN FOLK VILLAGE, let’s move to downtown of SUWON city where HWASEONG FORTRESS is located.

HWASEONG FORTRESS is one of UNESCO WORLD HERITAGES. It was built over two and a half years, from 1794 to 1796, according to the designs of the architect JEONG YAK-YONG, who would later become a renowned leader of the SILHAK movement. SILHAK, which means practical learning, encouraged the use of science and industry, and JEONG incorporated fortress designs from Korea and China along with contemporary science into his plans. Use of brick as a building material for the fortress and employment of efficient pulleys and cranes were also due to the influence of SILHAK. (referenced from wikipedia)

The meaning of HWASEONG FORTRESS is the harmony of the city and the fortress. SUWON city decided to build new city outside fortress to make HWASEONG FORTRESS tourist attraction.

By the way, SUWON city is famous for GALBI (marinated grilled beef rib). If you don’t mind choosing Special Meal option, you will have the chance of tasking GALBI at the most famous restaurant.

Also, before heading back to SEOUL, we will show you 2 royal tombs (out of 42 tombs forms a unit of UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE) called YUN-NEUNG and GEON-NEUNG ROYAL TOMBS. (This is Tombs of Crown Prince SADI and King JEONG-JO)