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, with hundreds of kids visiting on school excursions.

About the Korean Folk Village

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

At the park, we experienced a traditional street market, restaurants, demonstrations of traditional woodworking and metalworking techniques, and 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 guardians. These Korean totem poles were worshipped as village tutelary deities and were traditionally placed at village edges to mark boundaries and ward off demons.

We passed an area that featured a lively amusement park section with colorful rides and game booths, an art museum displaying a variety of paintings and installations, a tranquil sculpture garden filled with intricate statues, a Korean Folk Museum with exhibits on traditional customs and daily life, and a World Folk Museum that highlights traditional lifestyles, clothing, and cultural practices from around the world.

Inside, there were several restaurants and a Shilla-period marketplace where you can buy food and souvenirs. The marketplace was especially memorable—it felt like stepping into a bustling hawker area in an old Korean market, with narrow aisles, bright signboards, and vendors calling out to passersby. Stalls and small booths lined both sides, selling everything from traditional Korean street food and hearty noodle dishes to grilled meats, rice cakes, and sweet desserts. The variety of food was impressive, and the air was filled with the mixed aromas of sizzling, steaming, and freshly prepared dishes.

We visited several kinds of traditional Korean houses, each reflecting a different facet of rural life and local culture. At the farmer’s house, we watched a local farmer patiently hand-weaving a sturdy cover from natural fibers for a row of giant earthenware jars. He explained that these jars, known as onggi, are used to ferment and store kimchi and other preserved foods. The woven cover protects the jars from the weather, insects, and dust, helping maintain the quality of the fermenting kimchi inside.

In another of the old houses, we watched artisans demonstrate how traditional straw shoes are carefully made by hand—from weaving the fibers to shaping the soles—and learned how these handmade shoes are packaged and sold to visitors. We also toured a detailed replica of ancient Korean jailhouses, built mainly from rough-hewn wood, which gave us a glimpse into how prisoners were once confined and guarded.

The village was huge, so we were relieved to have a tour guide who could lead us to the most interesting and important areas. As we walked along narrow pathways and open courtyards, he pointed out key landmarks and explained their history and purpose. Inside the traditional houses, he showed us that most were carefully divided into small compartments, each with its own distinct use—some for sleeping, others for cooking, storage, or welcoming visitors.

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:

Here’s a clean, simple guide to getting to the Korean Folk Village (?????) with no sources mentioned.

Location: Yongin, Gyeonggi-do (south of Seoul)

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Public Transportation (Best Option)

Direct Express Bus from Seoul

This is the easiest way.

• From Gangnam Station
  Take Bus 5001-1
• From Myeongdong / Euljiro-1ga Station
  Take Bus 4101

Get off at the Korean Folk Village stop
Walk about 5 minutes to the entrance

Travel time: 45–60 minutes (depending on traffic)

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Subway + Bus

Option 1: Via Suin-Bundang Line

1. Take the Suin-Bundang Line
2. Get off at Sanggal Station
3. Exit 3
4. Transfer to Bus 10-5 or Bus 37
5. Get off at the Korean Folk Village

Option 2: From Suwon Station

1. Go to Suwon Station (Line 1)
2. Exit 4
3. Take Bus 10-5 or Bus 37
4. Get off at the Korean Folk Village

? Travel time: about 1–1.5 hours

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Taxi or Car

• About 40–60 minutes from central Seoul
• Tell the driver: “(Hanguk Minsokchon)”
• Parking is available on site

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Tips

• Go early if you want to watch traditional performances
• Plan at least half a day
• Buses are very tourist-friendly and stop right outside

If you tell me where you’re starting from (Hongdae, Seoul Station, Itaewon, etc.), I can give you exact step-by-step directions

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 bookings and reservations, visit http://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.

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