Gangneung Seonhwa Village

Gangneung Seonhwa Village

Seonhwa Village is an aristocratic residence built in the Joseon Dynasty by Lee Nae-ban (1703–1781) in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. It was designated as National Treasure No. 5 of Important Folk Materials in 1965. The “Seon” (船) in Seonhwa Village refers to a mode of transportation. It is said that when the village was built, Gyeongpo Lake was right in front of the entrance, so boats had to be used to come and go.

Gyeongpo Lake, which once had a circumference of 12 km, gradually shrank to 4 km over the years due to sediment accumulation, with its deepest part only 1–2 m deep. Nowadays, Gyeongpo Lake is no longer visible from Seonhwa Village.

Seonhwa Village has been continuously inhabited by the descendants of Lee Nae-ban for over 300 years, during which its traditional architectural style has been well preserved. It was once selected by KBS (Korean Broadcasting System) as one of the ten most beautiful traditional houses in South Korea.

The most famous building in Seonhwa Village is Yeohwadang, where the male head of the household resided. “Yeohwadang” means a place where family members gather together to share joy and happiness. In front of Yeohwadang, there is also a rare balcony for traditional Korean houses, which was a gift built by the Russian legation during the late Joseon Dynasty.

In addition, Hwarojeong is another notable structure that must be mentioned. Built in 1916, Hwarojeong is located near the entrance of Seonhwa Village, outside the main gate, and is surrounded by lotus flowers in the center of a lotus pond, offering a uniquely scenic view.

Transportation Guide: 1. By car – Take city bus No. 202 from Gangneung Station or Gangneung Express Bus Terminal. It takes about 30 minutes from Gangneung Railway Station and around 15 minutes from the Express Bus Terminal. 2. By taxi – Around 5–10 minutes from Gangneung Railway Station / Around 5–10 minutes from the Express Bus Terminal

Ticket Information: Adults (19 and over) 2,000 KRW; National Merit Recipients, People with Disabilities, Military Personnel, Police, Middle School Students (ages 13–18) 1,200 KRW; Elementary School Students (ages 7–12) 600 KRW (Groups of 30 or more: 1,400 KRW / 800 KRW / 400 KRW); Seniors (65 and over): 1,200 KRW; Children under 7 (preschool age) are free

Notes:

Opening Hours: Summer (March–October) 09:00–18:00 / Winter (November–February) 09:00–17:00; Closed on: Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving), Lunar New Year

Gangneung, South Korea