Korean Folk Village, Suwon, South Korea (Daytrip)

Trip to South Korea – Part 8: The King Of Dramas

The Korean Folk Village is located in Suwon, South Korea. Only about a 90-minute trip away from Seoul, it is the perfect destination for a daytrip from the capital.

The site is easily reached using public transport. Visitors can take the train from Seoul to the Suwon Station, Exit 4, and then use the provided free shuttle or pay for a taxi to take them the remainder of the way right to the front entry of the village. The drive will take approximately 30 minutes.

At the entrance of the village there is a map with key points to visit while you’re there.

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The extensive grounds of the Korean Folks Village are essentially a big park. Perfect for taking a stroll in while enjoying both nature, and the sights of historical architecture.

A museum also gives the visitor additional insights into daily life in a Korea of the past.

Miniature displays inside the museum depict typical daily activities in historical Korea.

Feel like getting in on the action?

There are multiple opportunities to do so at the Korean Folk Village.

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Several replicas of ancient workshops can be found all over.

Baskets with straps made from fabrics were commonly used to carry things over longer distances.

We spotted several staff around the village dressed as characters that would have been seen walking around in the old days.

A beautiful pavilion invites for a rest [and of course, a photoshoot].

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Houses with a stone base could be heated via build in fireplaces underneath the house.

Inside this room life size replicas depict a harmonious family scene.

The Korean Folk Village can lay claim to having been the filming site for many popular Korean dramas. This includes both historical and modern dramas, one them being the famous “My Love from a Star” starring Jun Ji-Hyun and Kim So-Hyun.

Hungry from all that exploring? No worries. An extensive food court provides ample choices and allows you to enjoy a delicious outdoors lunch.

Multiple seating areas strewn about in case you need to rest.

Visitors to the Korean Folk Village can imagine themselves as guests while enjoying a historical wedding re-enactment. (Is anyone else getting strong “Goong” vibes from these pics?)

Exploring Suwon

As I went through these pictures I remembered that we had been looking for this particular entrance but couldn’t find it. The place is called Paldalmun (팔달문), which is one of the entrance gates to the Hwaseong Fortress. In our very limited Korean we asked a woman where it was. As soon as she started to use words such as 왼쪽 (oenjjok) “left” and 오른쪽 (oreunjjok) “right”, we knew we had arrived at the barrier that was language. So, we followed her hand gestures instead. She was very friendly and we were able to find our entrance to the fortress after all.

A steadfast reminder of ancient times, these structures stand in stark contrast to the modern world surrounding them today. Impressive in size and architectural design, they are a sight to behold.

A little stream flanked by paths allows for a relaxing (or perhaps romantic?) walk. It also provides a perfect backdrop for some beautiful pictures. (Time to break out that selfie stick once again.)

Several of these plates can be found embedded into the sidewalks on the streets of Suwon. This particular one is dedicated to the Banghwasuryujeong Pavilion (a World Heritage Site).