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Start
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Donghaewon
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Royal Tomb of King Muryeong
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Gongju Hanok Village
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Gongju National Museum
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Muin Hotel
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Cherry Blossom Festival
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Donghak Temple
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Finish
Gongju Hanok Village which is great to stay and take a walk
Gongju-si formed a Hanok Village in Ungjin-dong area to satisfy tourists with accommodations and attractions. Houses in the village are run by Gongju-si so they are cheap to tourists. The cheapest room costs from 40,000 won. As I told you last time, you can get 20% of discount for a room charge of Hanok Village with 'Onnuri Gongju Citizenship'. It's available to get a citizenship on the homepage of Gongju city hall. Although you don't stay overnight here, it's wonderful enough to view. You must visit the Hanok Village during Gongju trip.
Canon EOS 550D | f/8.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:08 15:15:38 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
Let's park at a large free parking lot and get into the village. The village is new so all buildings are clean and their facilities are well-arranged.
Canon EOS 550D | f/5.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:08 15:18:12 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
As I told you Gongju-si runs free bicycle rental shops in places. There is one at the entrance of Hanok Village. However, it's recently prohibited to collect the resident registration numbers in Korea. As a temporary expedient, you need to sign up for a membership on the homepage and get a membership card at 'Physical education department' of Gongju city hall. It will be more convenient with the new user identification system. I hope the easier way to use it for foreigners to be developed, as well.
+ Homepage of Gongju-si Bicycle Rental : click
+ Issue Fee of Membership Card : 1,500 won
Canon EOS 550D | f/8.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:08 15:16:16 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
This is a front yard of information center in the Gongju Hanok Village. It's the most beautiful information center that I have ever seen. It's wonderful to look at the open sky in square from the middle of the yard and the Jangdokdae in the sunny spot.
Canon EOS 550D | f/9.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:08 15:19:27 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 26mm
On the left side of the village, an old building attracts my eyes. This building is a restoration of Chungcheong Provincial Office. There had been 49 buildings and 481 rooms in late Joseon Dynasty but most of them were demolished in Japanese Colonial Period. Now, only three buildings are left including a gatehouse of Pojeong Temple, Seonhwadang, and Dongheondong.
Canon EOS 550D | f/9.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:08 15:21:41 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
Forsythias are in full bloom on both sides of the entrance of a gatehouse in Pojeong Temple. The first floor of gatehouse was used as exits with doors and the second floor was as a palace.
Canon EOS 550D | f/5.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:08 15:20:44 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
In the village, there are many places that allow tourists to experience traditional cultures. This is 'Jomullak Workshop' where you can paint the clay and wood. Besides you can make Dasik(Korean traditional snack), tea of Baekje, book, Injeolmi and ceramics. Experience fee varies from 5,000 won to 15,000 won. It includes materials.
Speaking of Injeolmi, do you know Injelmi is from Gongju? Injeolmi is a rice cake with bean flour. In order to make Injeolmi, you should cook some Chapssal(Sticky rice) in a steamer and cut it into pieces in square and powder with soybean flour. When King Injo took refuge from the rebellion, a Mr. Im served 'Imjeolmi' to the king. It was so delicious and the king asked, “What's the name of this Tteok(Rice cake)?” No one knew what its name was, so he named it 'Imjeolmi' that means Jeolmi(Great taste, 絶味) from the Ims. Later, the name was changed to 'Injeolmi' to pronounce easily. It's called 'GongjuTteok' in Gongju.
Canon EOS 550D | f/9.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:08 15:25:20 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
There is a Gukgung(Korean traditional archery) experience center for tourists. I've experienced Gukgung once at Suwon Hwaseong(Fortress). It's more interesting than my expectation. Experts use a bow that hits a target that is 145m away, but the tourists use loosed one in shorter distance. It would be a funny and unconventional experience to children.
+ Open Hour : 10 am ~ 2 pm
+ Experience Fee : Adult 2,000 won, Youth/Children 1,000 won
Canon EOS 550D | f/9.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:08 15:27:21 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
Now, let's go into the village. The Hanok Village consists of thatched houses and tile-roofed houses. There is no modern building at all and you can enjoy Korean traditional alleys in countryside. All the buildings are built by Gongju-si for accommodations.
Canon EOS 550D | f/9.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:08 15:27:40 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
If you take closer look at Hanoks, all buildings have different shapes. Several buildings look like main buildings of Yangban(Upper class) houses. There are thatched houses for common people and Hanoks(Traditional Korean-style houses) including Saranchaes and outbuildings. You can choose either size of the building and reserve a room.
Canon EOS 550D | f/3.2 | iso 100 | 2015:04:08 15:28:16 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 47mm
Is it a birdhouse? Cute decorations with straw ropes are hanging from eaves. The house has been prepared with meticulous care to get a genuine feeling of Korean culture.
Canon EOS 550D | f/4.5 | iso 100 | 2015:04:08 15:28:42 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
There is a thatched house with a wall and door made of Korean lespedeza trees. It's been a long time to see these trees. They used to be used as the broom. This is a single-family house. You can stay overnight here with around 100,000 won on weekdays (Weekend 120,000 won) due to the Onnuri Gongju Citizenship.
Canon EOS 550D | f/4.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:08 15:30:32 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 38mm
There is a small pretty gate that leads you to the alley in the backyard. Do you see that the village has the elaborate structure?
Canon EOS 550D | f/4.0 | iso 320 | 2015:04:08 15:31:52 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
This is inside the house(Gyeryonggwan). A large room is equipped with a TV, air conditioner, and traditional dressers. The living room has a refrigerator and water purifier. Each restroom is modern style has bidets. There are Japanese hinoki bathtubs as well. I had a plan to stay at this Gyeryonggwan, but unfortunately rooms are all booked up. I asked a favor of a guest and get a picture of the house. This kind of room costs around 64,000 won for 1 day on weekdays.
Canon EOS 550D | f/4.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:08 15:33:11 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 21mm
The house has Ondol heating system with firewood. Inside of all the house has modern style but the red clay room for heating has not. You need to burn the firewood here. This heating system is entirely different from the one of modern boiler. The room becomes much warmer with the Ondol heating system than a boiler. Plus it’s fun to roast sweet potatoes playing with fire at night. ^^*
Canon EOS 550D | f/4.5 | iso 100 | 2015:04:08 15:34:22 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 23mm
Beautiful flowers are planted narrowly under the neat and simple wall to protect them from people. I strongly feel like I want to stay here after taking a round to the village.
Canon EOS 550D | f/3.2 | iso 100 | 2015:04:08 15:33:37 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 34mm
Beyond the low wall, cherry blossoms poke their heads out.
Canon EOS 550D | f/4.5 | iso 100 | 2015:04:08 15:35:15 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 19mm
There is an old pump in the front yard. It’s called Jakdu Pump(Hand pump). I push it down wondering if it really works. Water starts to gush out from the pump. It works!
Canon EOS 550D | f/8.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:08 15:36:19 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
Canon EOS 550D | f/4.5 | iso 100 | 2015:04:08 15:35:38 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
It seems the Gongju Hanok Village cared much about its windows and doors. You can see a shape of windows and doors that has been handed down for generations with lattice windows outside and windows in Yong(用) and Ah(亞) shape, in the main room. This shape is still used. The furniture in the room looks antique. You can feel the harmony of past and present in this village.
If you don't want to eat at restaurants, you can grill meats in person. A barbecue area with tile-roofed style is behind the village. There are also a sink, microwave, and enough amount of hot water. You might feel like you are in a pension or on a camping with them.
Canon EOS 550D | f/7.1 | iso 100 | 2015:04:08 15:42:48 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
In the corner of the village, there are convenient stores and restaurants, so you don't have to drive to go out for a meal or getting other things.
Canon EOS 550D | f/3.5 | iso 100 | 2015:04:08 15:40:26 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 50mm
Unfortunately, rooms of Hanok Village were all booked up on that day but I was satisfied enough with going around the village. I want to stay overnight in a sunny and cozy room of the village someday. It’s affordable that the Hotel charges vary from ones of motel to low-price hotel. Plus, it would be good to make special memories of one night at the wonderful Hanok. If I miss Goungju trip, it should be because of the Hanok Village.
+ Address : 12(Ungjin-dong), Gwangwangdanji-gil, Gongju-si, Chungcheonnam-do
+ Homepage : click
+ Telephone : 041-840-8900
