Flowers bloom in the courtyard of Cheongun Literature Library on Mount Inwang in Jongno District, Seoul. Korea Times file
Soaring prices and tighter budgets are squeezing not just daily life but also travel in Korea.
While Seoulites readily turn to the viral"map for beggars" (Geojimap)for meals under 8,000 won ($5.50), budget-friendly escapes can be harder to find. However, one pocket of the city offers a rare kind of outing — one built around history, serenity and free admission.
Hidden within the winding alleys of Seochon in central Seoul’s Jongno District is a cluster of historic hanok buildings and cultural spaces that offer a quiet retreat in the middle of the city, along with a window into modern Korean history, all free of charge.
A short walk from Gyeongbokgung Station on subway Line 3, Hong Geon-ik’s house in Pirun-dong is a modern hanok built between 1934 and 1936.
Visitors rest in the inner quarters of Hong Geon-ik’s House in Seochon, central Seoul. Korea Times file
Originally built by merchant Hong Geon-ik, the 740.5-square-meter property includes five separate buildings — the main gate, servants’ quarters, guest quarters, inner quarters and detached quarters — opening onto a broad backyard. Unlike the tightly enclosed layout typical of many urban hanoks, the buildings here are spaced apart, letting in more light and air.
The house follows the natural slope of the site while incorporating modern touches such as glass doors and eaves. Visitors can spot trigram, plum blossom and lotus motifs throughout the grounds. In the backyard are an ilgakmun gate — a small roofed gate supported by two pillars — a well and an ice house built into the higher ground. The city says it is the only hanok in Seoul to retain all three features.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government bought the neglected house in 2011, restored it from 2013 to 2015 and opened it to the public in 2017. Today, the site functions as a small living museum and resting space where visitors can play traditional board games, read or simply sit and rest.
An ice house built into the elevated terrain of Hong Geon-ik’s house in Seochon, Jongno District, Seoul / Korea Times file
Source: Korea Times News
