The Yun Family House in the Ogin-dong neighborhood of Seoul's Jung-gu District is the site of the so-called Namsangol staycation. '.

The Yun Family House in the Ogin-dong neighborhood of Seoul’s Jung-gu District is the site of the so-called “Namsangol staycation.”

By Yoo Yeon Gyeong and Kim Hayeon
Photos = Seoul Metropolitan Government

With summer approaching, Hanok (traditional architecture) homes in Namsangol Hanok Village of Seoul’s Jung-gu District will be opened to the public.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government on June 27 said its “Namsangol Vacance” program through Aug. 28 will run in the village on Friday until Sunday.

The village is a popular tourist destination for both Koreans and foreigners in introducing Hanok culture.

Visitors can experience how Koreans hundreds of years ago avoided the summer heat. They can take relax and lay down on the cool hardwood floor, with their heads resting on Jukbuin, bamboo pillows.

Guests can also see displays of traditional games such as yunnori (board game with four sticks) and gongginori (children’s marbles).

The city government said that because of the positive feedback from its limited opening last year of the guest room of the Yun Family House in Seoul’s Ogin-dong neighborhood, this year’s program was expanded.

This year will see public access to other areas of the home and a longer visiting time of 1 1/2 hours, up from an hour last year. For safety purposes, only small groups of up to four people can visit through a reservation system.

Each visitor will also get refreshments and beverages made by Joung Kum Mi, director of the Traditional Food Research Institute.

The cost per person is KRW 12,000 and toddlers under 24 months get in free. Reservations will open on June 29 at 2 p.m. via the online portal Naver (booking.naver.com).

More information is available on the village’s website: www.hanokmaeul.or.kr.

The poster for the 

The poster for the “Namsangol Vacance” program

dusrud21@korea.kr