Korean Folk Village Travel Guide

After exploring Everland Theme Park, we boarded our bus and headed to the Korean Folk Village. Also known as Minsok Village, this living museum is a popular heritage and cultural destination for both Korean and foreign tourists. Upon arriving at the village, we were surprised to see dozens of buses parked; there were hundreds of kids visiting on school excursions.

About Korean Folk Village

Due to the devastation that ensued during the Korean War, only few traditional houses and heritage buildings were left to preserve and showcase Korean tradition and history. The Korean Folk Village was established in 1974, created to expose local and foreign tourists to traditional Korean life and culture. The Village contains several sections that showcase replicas of traditional houses of the different social classes (peasant, landowner, yangban) from various regions.

At the park, we were able to experience traditional street market, restaurants, and demonstrations of traditional woodworking and metalworking techniques, as well as performances of traditional dances, equestrian skills, marriage ceremonies, and recreational activities.

Exploring the Village

Before we entered the village, we observed wooden poles carved with Chinese characters; these poles are called Jangseung or Village guardian. These Korean totem poles were worshipped as village tutelary deities and were traditionally placed at the edges of villages to mark village boundaries and scare away demons.

We passed an area with an amusement park section has rides and games, an art museum, a sculpture garden, a Korean Folk Museum, and a World Folk Museum which highlights traditional lifestyles from around the world.

There were restaurants inside, as well as a Shilla period marketplace where you can buy food and souvenir items. The marketplace was great; it reminded me of a hawker area in an Old Korean Market. There is a plethora of food available from various stalls and vendors.

We visited different types of traditional Korean houses. In the farmer’s house, we saw a local farmer making a hand-woven cover for huge jars which are used for Kimchi fermentation and storage.

In another one of the old houses, we witnessed how straw shoes are made and how they sell it. We also visited a replica of ancient Korean Jail houses that are mostly made from wood.

The village was huge so we were glad to have a tour guide who was able to show us the most interesting and important parts of the village. He showed us different parts of the house and I noticed that most of the houses are actually subdivided into small compartments, each of which has its own purpose.

Overall, it was a truly memorable and educational experience; the village helped me to better appreciate traditional Korean culture and architecture. We were not able to visit some of the areas in the park and that’s why I will go back to this place very very soon!

How to get there:

[Subway + Bus]

1) Take a bus from either Gangnam Station (Seoul Subway Line 2), Exit 10 or Sinnonhyeon Station (DX Subway Line), Exit 6.

Take Bus 5001-1 or 1560 to Korean Folk Village.
*5001-1 (Red express bus)
Boarding location: From Exit 6 of Sinnonhyeon Station, go straight 250m and you will find the stop across from the CGV.
Route: Sinnonhyeon Subway Station -> Gangnam Subway Station -> Yangjae Subway Station -> Yangjae IC -> Suwon IC -> Singal -> KFV -> Myongji University.
*1560 (Red express bus)
Location: From Exit 6 of Sinnonhyeon Station, go straight 250m and you will find the stop across from the CGV.
Route: Sinnonhyeon Subway Station -> Gangnam Subway Station -> Yangjae Subway Station -> Gyeongbu Expressway -> Singal -> KFV 3-Way Intersection (Samsung Apt.) -> Samsung Semiconductor -> Byeongjeom

2) Get off at Jonggak Station (Seoul Subway Line 1), Exit 3-1. Upon exiting, take Bus 5500-1 to Korean Folk Village 3-way Junction.

*5500-1 (Red express bus)
Location: From Exit 3-1 of Jonggak Subway Station, walk straight 225 m to find the bus stop in front of Aventree Hotel: Jonggak Subway Station -> Dankook University -> Seohyeon Subway Station -> Migeum Subway Station -> Singal -> Bora Elementary School? KFV 3-Way Intersection (Samsung Apt.) -> Kyunghee University

3) Take Bus 10-5 or 37 to Korean Folk Village or Nagok Village from Suwon Station (Seoul Subway Line 1), Exit 5.

*10-5
Location: From Exit 5 of Suwon Station, go forward 50m.
Route: Suwon Station -> Gyeonggi-do Provincial Office -> 2001 Outlet -> Suwon Employment Center -> Wooman Apt -> Ajou University 3-Way Intersection -> Premium Outlet Sanggal Station -> Geumhwa Village 3rd Compound -> KFV 3-Way Intersection -> Hanbora Village Entrance -> Get off for Nagok Village
*37
Location: From Exit 5 of Suwon Station, go forward 50m.
Route: Suwon Station -> Gyeonggi-do Provincial Office -> 2001 Outlet -> Dongsuwon Telephone Office -> Court 3-Way Intersection -> Sanggal Station -> Geumhwa -> KFV 3-Way Intersection -> Get off for KFV

4) Take Bus 37, 10-5 or 5001-1 to Korean Folk Village or Nagok Village from Sanggal Station (Bundang Subway Line), Exit 3.

[Shuttle Bus 1] (Korean Folk Village -> Suwon Station)

*Operating hours
Suwon Station Korean Folk Village: 10:30, 12:30, 14:30
Korean Folk Village Suwon Station: 14:00, 15:30, 16:30
*Fair: Free of charge.
*Group passengers require a reservation in advance.
*Tickets must be purchased prior to boarding. Inquires regarding ticket purchase will be answered at the tourist information center.

[Shuttle Bus 2] (Korean Folk Village -> Sanggal Station)
Korean Folk Village (Main gate): 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 16:30, 17:30
Sanggal Station, Exit 2: 11:05, 13:05, 15:05, 16:35, 17:35
Gyeonggi Provincial Museum: 11:10, 13:10, 15:10, 16:40, 17:40
Giheung Station, Exit 4: 11:20, 13:20, 15:20, 16:50, 17:45
Sanggal Station, Exit 3: 11:25, 13:25, 15:25, 16:55
Korean Folk Village (Main gate): 11:30, 13:30, 15:30, 17:00
Tourist information center is located 50m from Suwon Station, Exit 5.
The 5th shuttle bus will not operate during the winter season.
Inquires: +82-31-288-0000 (Korean Folk Village Shuttle Bus Service )

AirAsia’s Manila-Incheon (Seoul) flights occur twice daily. It’s the shortest trip, but AirAsia also offers flights from Cebu to Seoul once a day, and two-way chartered flights to/from Kalibo (Boracay), Incheon (Seoul), and Busan. For flight booking and reservations, visithttp://www.airasia.com/. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Korean Folk Village
Address: 90 Minsokchon-ro, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do
1330 Travel Hotline: +82-31-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Information Center: +82-31-288-0000
Website: www.koreanfolk.co.kr

Special thanks to Korea Tourism Organization and AirAsia for making this trip possible.

Also see:

• 10 Must-See South Korean Travel Destinations Outside of Seoul
• Everland Theme Park in Yongin, South Korea
• Suwon Hwaseong Fortress in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Galbi Dinner at Bonsuwon: Best Korean Beef BBQ in Suwon, South Korea
• Exploring Gwangmyeong Cave in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Lunch at Seojichogaddeul Restaurant in Gangneung, South Korea
• Visiting Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul, South Korea
• How to Get a Korean Tourist Visa for Filipino Travelers
• Must Eat Local Food in Seoul, Korea