The Eunpyeong Hanok Village and Nearby Temples

Why only Bukchon Hanok Village even though there is Eungpyeong Hanok Village? Eunpyeong is home to a beautiful and less tourist Hanok village. This area was developed as per the plan of Seoul City in 2010 to be a historical, cultural, and tourist site.

Most houses in Eunpyeong are a little bit different from houses in Bukchon. They are modernized houses using different materials for the walls, underfloor heating systems, and so on. Especially, a two-story house in Eunpyeong while an original one-story house.

The general characteristics of Hanok are:

- Using natural materials such as earth, stone, wood

- Underfloor heating system in rooms

- Wooden floor called Maru (similar to the living room)

- Using Korean paper Hanji

- Largely classified into two types; namely, tile-roofed houses and  rice straw-roofed houses

The plan for Seoul City seemed to have failed thus it’s good to enjoy some quiet time, and walks. There are some great cafes to check out here too as well as walking paths to nearby temples, along with clean streams, and up into the mountain.

Visitors may rent a Korean traditional costume at the Neonadeulyi Center right next to the museum parking lot entrance. Pre-reservation required.

Just up a clearly marked road from the village (walk within 10 minutes), an easy walk for those that are less inclined to hike and stroller friendly for those with kiddos, sits Jingwansa Temple.

This temple was built in 1010 and it is known that King Sejong the Great let scholars study various letters. It was burnt down during the Korean War and Most temple buildings were restored in 1973.

How about enjoying a Korean traditional Jujube tea at the temple cafe with rice straw-roofed building?

There is another temple, Samcheonsa Temple, around 1 km from the village.

Founded in 661, this temple gets its name from the legend saying it housed more than 3,000 practicing monks (samcheon means 3,000 in Korean). It was burnt down during the Japanese invasion in 1592 and then it was restored.

Engraved on a giant boulder to the back of Daeungjeon Hall is a standing Sakyamuni Buddha statue dating back to the early Goryeo Dynasty.

Wherever going up through the way by the temple, can reach the Samcheonsa Valley famous for its clean stream and beautiful scenery.

* How to get to the Hanok Village area

    Yeonshinnae Station or Gupabal Station of Line 3 -> Bus 701, 7211, 7723

Eunpyeong History & Hanok Museum

Under the Bukhansan Mountain, there is a three-storied museum located in the western part of Seoul.

First of all, lots of tombstones greet visitors at the entrance. They were excavated while building a new apartment complex near the museum called Eungpyeong New Town.

Why so many tombs in the area? During the Joseon Dynasty, graves were not allowed within 10Ri (around 4Km) of Hanyang (the old name of Seoul) fortress. This area is far around 10Ri from the fortress.

In addition, there is a building showing the kiln site during the Unified Shilla Dynasty (7 ~ 10 century). It was moved from the apartment complex.

On the second floor is the history hall to learn more about the cultural heritage of the area. Let us know that Eungpyeong District was the gateway from and to China.

Do not be surprised at the tombs with a skeleton model under your foot.

What is Hanok? Let’s go up to the third floor. Lots of tools for building Hanok, a traditional Korean house are exhibited.

Hanok is made of earth, wood, stone, tiles, and Hanji (Korean white paper). Visitors can know how to make the traditional house and understand what advantages the house has.

Out of the exhibition hall, there is a viewpoint of Hanok village and Bukhansan Mountain.

When the visitors are tired, they can have a rest at the Yongcheol-jeong Pavilion.