ID :
137497
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 01:43
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/137497
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(Yonhap Feature) S. Korea's traditional houses aiming to draw tourists
By Lee Minji
SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- With rapid industrialization in the past few decades,
South Korea's traditional houses, called "hanok," have taken a back seat to more
convenient brick homes and apartments. Although beautiful and eco-friendly, they
lack modern kitchens and bathrooms and are more difficult to heat.
Even in the countryside, traditional houses that are made mainly of materials
such as soil and timber are sparse, while only small clusters of hanok remain in
Seoul, the country's capital, as well as a handful of centuries-old cities,
thanks to government efforts to preserve them.
With hanok becoming increasingly scarce, some owners are striving to transform
them into tourist attractions for foreigners as well as Koreans, who are eager to
know about South Korea's traditional housing culture and lifestyle.
Hanok guesthouses for that purpose have sprung up at Bukchon Hanok Village in
central Seoul, where scores of traditional houses are located on a hill not far
away from the country's presidential office, and the city of Jeonju, about 240
kilometers south of the capital. Both places are known for their tranquil
ambience.
Most of these lodgings have added modern facilities to better cater to foreign
tourists who are not comfortable with using traditional toilets or sleeping on
the floor. Hanok are known for their "ondol" heating system, which directly
transfers heat from burning wood to the underside of a thick masonry floor.
The Tea Guesthouse in Seoul is one of the many renovated hanok guesthouses
scattered around the narrow alleys of Bukchon Village. All of its rooms are
air-conditioned and equipped with Internet-connected computers. Continental
breakfast is also available.
"Getting a chance to experience the traditional culture with the new amenities --
flush toilets, air conditioners -- is great. I would definitely consider another
visit," said American tourist Shelley Hermes.
Not content with just renovating facilities, some hanok owners are resorting to
traditional culture programs that synergize with the backdrop to offer tourists
an enriched hanok experience.
For instance, the Tea Guesthouse provides cultural programs targeted at Japanese
tourists. Their selection of activities ranges from making "kimchi," a side dish
made of cabbage, to homemade "makgeolli," or traditional rice wine.
Despite the rate that starts at 40,000 won (US$34) per day, the number of users
has doubled from three months earlier, when the program was launched, according
to the Tea Guesthouse.
"Since there are only four rooms available for lodging, we faced difficulty in
earning money. It was also difficult to meet the rising demand," said Kim
Sang-mi, a manager at the guesthouse, "The new program is much more profitable,
and we can serve more visitors in the same given time."
According to Kim, the guesthouse plans to build a hanok solely dedicated to
providing cultural experiences by the end of this year.
Such efforts to provide cultural experiences have gained traction with government
support. In October 2009, the authorities tweaked the tourism promotion act to
add a new clause to that end.
The move came as interest in hanok has mounted. The number of domestic and
foreign visitors to Jeonju's "Hanok Maeul," a village made up of 708 hanok,
soared 118 percent on-year in 2009. The number of visitors who slept in the
village's hanok lodgings also surged on-year by 69 percent in the same period,
according to the city's data.
With the new legislation in place, the city's program to promote its traditional
Korean housing experience business is now in full swing.
"We don't want tourists to see Jeonju as a temporary stop. We want them to stay
and experience the traditional lifestyle itself," said Sung Eun-hee, an official
at the city government's tourism division.
According to Sung, the program aims to promote the Korean lifestyle as a package
by offering tourists a hands-on experience of Korean traditions. Visitors can
make "hanji", traditional Korean paper made from the inner bark of the mulberry
tree, or learn about the artistic value of hanok while actually staying at a
hanok.
The tourism division has also come up with walk tours based on storytelling, such
as one on the old trees that sprawl across the hanok village, so that tourists
can get a closer look at the roots of the tradition rather than skim through the
historic sites.
Meanwhile, some hanok owners are seeking to boost profits by attracting high-end
travelers with a luxurious stay at posh hanok boutique hotels.
Ragung, meaning a palace of the ancient Silla Dynasty (BC 57-AD 935), is a hanok
hotel located in Gyeongju, the capital of the dynasty. A night at the 16-suite
hotel can cost up to 460,000 won, but the hotel is fully booked two months in
advance.
"Our rooms are reserved on a house basis rather than a room basis, and each suite
features a private outdoor hot spring," said Min Dae-sik, an official at the
hanok hotel.
Min added that visitors who stay at the hotel receive complimentary tickets to
the adjacent Silla Millennium Park, a traditional theme park that serves as the
cash cow of the company.
Rakkojae, meaning "a place where one can enjoy the traditions of the past and
rest one's soul," is also trying to lure tourists with a culture program.
Tourists enjoy mud saunas and full-course Korean dinners that start at 60,000
won. Mini-concerts featuring traditional musicians start at 250,000 won, but
visitors eagerly open up their wallets.
"Most of our guests are satisfied with the value they get from the price.
Moreover, considering the costly maintenance and construction costs of hanok, the
price is not that high at all," said Ahn Young-hwan, founder of the hotel in
central Seoul.
Ahn went on to emphasize the importance of providing the best quality in services
and facilities to heighten the image of Korean tradition.
"Chinese culture is noted for its size. Japanese culture is delicate. How about
the Korean culture?" questioned Ahn.
"Hanok is the epitome of Korean culture. To offer the best cultural experiences
that can be felt at hanok," Ahn said, "that is something that can raise the
country's tourism to a world-class level."
mil@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- With rapid industrialization in the past few decades,
South Korea's traditional houses, called "hanok," have taken a back seat to more
convenient brick homes and apartments. Although beautiful and eco-friendly, they
lack modern kitchens and bathrooms and are more difficult to heat.
Even in the countryside, traditional houses that are made mainly of materials
such as soil and timber are sparse, while only small clusters of hanok remain in
Seoul, the country's capital, as well as a handful of centuries-old cities,
thanks to government efforts to preserve them.
With hanok becoming increasingly scarce, some owners are striving to transform
them into tourist attractions for foreigners as well as Koreans, who are eager to
know about South Korea's traditional housing culture and lifestyle.
Hanok guesthouses for that purpose have sprung up at Bukchon Hanok Village in
central Seoul, where scores of traditional houses are located on a hill not far
away from the country's presidential office, and the city of Jeonju, about 240
kilometers south of the capital. Both places are known for their tranquil
ambience.
Most of these lodgings have added modern facilities to better cater to foreign
tourists who are not comfortable with using traditional toilets or sleeping on
the floor. Hanok are known for their "ondol" heating system, which directly
transfers heat from burning wood to the underside of a thick masonry floor.
The Tea Guesthouse in Seoul is one of the many renovated hanok guesthouses
scattered around the narrow alleys of Bukchon Village. All of its rooms are
air-conditioned and equipped with Internet-connected computers. Continental
breakfast is also available.
"Getting a chance to experience the traditional culture with the new amenities --
flush toilets, air conditioners -- is great. I would definitely consider another
visit," said American tourist Shelley Hermes.
Not content with just renovating facilities, some hanok owners are resorting to
traditional culture programs that synergize with the backdrop to offer tourists
an enriched hanok experience.
For instance, the Tea Guesthouse provides cultural programs targeted at Japanese
tourists. Their selection of activities ranges from making "kimchi," a side dish
made of cabbage, to homemade "makgeolli," or traditional rice wine.
Despite the rate that starts at 40,000 won (US$34) per day, the number of users
has doubled from three months earlier, when the program was launched, according
to the Tea Guesthouse.
"Since there are only four rooms available for lodging, we faced difficulty in
earning money. It was also difficult to meet the rising demand," said Kim
Sang-mi, a manager at the guesthouse, "The new program is much more profitable,
and we can serve more visitors in the same given time."
According to Kim, the guesthouse plans to build a hanok solely dedicated to
providing cultural experiences by the end of this year.
Such efforts to provide cultural experiences have gained traction with government
support. In October 2009, the authorities tweaked the tourism promotion act to
add a new clause to that end.
The move came as interest in hanok has mounted. The number of domestic and
foreign visitors to Jeonju's "Hanok Maeul," a village made up of 708 hanok,
soared 118 percent on-year in 2009. The number of visitors who slept in the
village's hanok lodgings also surged on-year by 69 percent in the same period,
according to the city's data.
With the new legislation in place, the city's program to promote its traditional
Korean housing experience business is now in full swing.
"We don't want tourists to see Jeonju as a temporary stop. We want them to stay
and experience the traditional lifestyle itself," said Sung Eun-hee, an official
at the city government's tourism division.
According to Sung, the program aims to promote the Korean lifestyle as a package
by offering tourists a hands-on experience of Korean traditions. Visitors can
make "hanji", traditional Korean paper made from the inner bark of the mulberry
tree, or learn about the artistic value of hanok while actually staying at a
hanok.
The tourism division has also come up with walk tours based on storytelling, such
as one on the old trees that sprawl across the hanok village, so that tourists
can get a closer look at the roots of the tradition rather than skim through the
historic sites.
Meanwhile, some hanok owners are seeking to boost profits by attracting high-end
travelers with a luxurious stay at posh hanok boutique hotels.
Ragung, meaning a palace of the ancient Silla Dynasty (BC 57-AD 935), is a hanok
hotel located in Gyeongju, the capital of the dynasty. A night at the 16-suite
hotel can cost up to 460,000 won, but the hotel is fully booked two months in
advance.
"Our rooms are reserved on a house basis rather than a room basis, and each suite
features a private outdoor hot spring," said Min Dae-sik, an official at the
hanok hotel.
Min added that visitors who stay at the hotel receive complimentary tickets to
the adjacent Silla Millennium Park, a traditional theme park that serves as the
cash cow of the company.
Rakkojae, meaning "a place where one can enjoy the traditions of the past and
rest one's soul," is also trying to lure tourists with a culture program.
Tourists enjoy mud saunas and full-course Korean dinners that start at 60,000
won. Mini-concerts featuring traditional musicians start at 250,000 won, but
visitors eagerly open up their wallets.
"Most of our guests are satisfied with the value they get from the price.
Moreover, considering the costly maintenance and construction costs of hanok, the
price is not that high at all," said Ahn Young-hwan, founder of the hotel in
central Seoul.
Ahn went on to emphasize the importance of providing the best quality in services
and facilities to heighten the image of Korean tradition.
"Chinese culture is noted for its size. Japanese culture is delicate. How about
the Korean culture?" questioned Ahn.
"Hanok is the epitome of Korean culture. To offer the best cultural experiences
that can be felt at hanok," Ahn said, "that is something that can raise the
country's tourism to a world-class level."
mil@yna.co.kr
(END)
