National Assembly's traditional house unveiled ahead of forum

By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, May 16 (Yonhap) -- When parliamentarians of the Group of 20 nations gather in the National Assembly for a three-day meeting later this week, they will get a true taste of Korea inside a traditional house, the parliamentary speaker said Monday.
Ahead of the G-20 Speakers' Consultation that kicks off Wednesday, the National Assembly opened a traditional Korean house, known as a "hanok," that will be ready to greet visitors during the meeting.
The new hanok was named "Sarangjae," which means a building for important guests.
"Through the G-20 Speakers' Consultation, I want to show the beauty and authenticity of hanok," Rep. Park Hee-tae said at an opening ceremony.
Parliamentarians from the G-20 nations and four non-member countries will visit Seoul for discussions on sustainable economic growth, terrorism and other global security issues. This week's conference is the second of its kind after the inaugural session in Canada in September.
Sarangjae, which was built inside the National Assembly compound and overlooks the Han River, will be used for receptions and other sideline events for foreign guests while the conference will be held at main Assembly building.
"We will serve Korean food to visitors, with servers wearing traditional dress to let the visitors fully experience Korean culture in a short period of time," the 73-year-old lawmaker said.
"I will use the global forum to promote the Korean Wave in a wide range of areas," he said, referring to Korean pop culture, known as "Hallyu," which has been gaining popularity in foreign countries, especially across Asia.
Hanok are single-story houses built around enclosed courtyards. Key features include ondol underfloor heating and a wooden frame that rests on a stone foundation. On the exterior walls, the placement of graduated bricks, from large ones at the base to smaller ones at the top, draws the eye up to the roof, a hanok's most attractive feature.


ejkim@yna.co.kr