Visitors watch a performance at the Korean Folk Village in the Gyeonggi province, South Korea. (Christopher Green/Stars and Stripes)
A theme park just a 35-minute drive from Osan Air Base introduces visitors to traditional Korean life.
The 270-acre Korean Folk Village is a great place to learn about the Joseon Dynasty, 1392 to 1910, including typical food, clothing and workshops.
The village was built in 1974, its houses relocated and restored from various parts of Korea.
Traditional tools are displayed at the Korean Folk Village in the Gyeonggi province, South Korea. (Christopher Green/Stars and Stripes)
The village day starts with an 11 a.m. performance of Pungmul, Korean traditional music and dance, which repeats at 4 p.m.
For the remainder of the day, the village offers endless amounts of fun activities. Visitors may ride horses, learn to dye handkerchiefs according to a traditional method or experience aspects of daily life with a stroll through the park.
At many workshops, craftspeople demonstrate the making of traditional masks, pottery and pyrography, the process of drawing or writing on wood.
The 270-acre Korean Folk Village is a great place to learn about the Joseon Dynasty, including the era’s typical food, clothing and workshops. (Christopher Green/Stars and Stripes)
In addition to its living history dimension, the village is home to two museums. The Korean Folk Museum displays life and culture in a rural community. The World Folk Museum has items of village life from other places around the world.
For thrill seekers, the village also has amusement park rides, including carousels, tea cups and bumper cars.
The 270-acre Korean Folk Village is a great place to learn about the Joseon Dynasty, including the era’s typical food, clothing and workshops. (Christopher Green/Stars and Stripes)
On the QT
Directions: 90 Minsokchon-ro, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do. The village can be reached by shuttle buses and subways, and is a 35-minute drive from Osan Air Base
Times: 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Costs: Admission for adults is 32,000 won, or about $23.92; children are 26,000 won; and seniors are 22,000 won.
Food: Nearly a dozen eateries are within walking distance of the village.
Information: Phone: 031-288-0000; Online: koreanfolk.co.kr
