wDo you wish to step firmly into the twenty first century and put on a hat to return to 14th century Korea in the course of the Joseon Dynasty? Yongju metropolis has a number of clues. There, you’ll stroll into Hanbok and stroll alongside a avenue lined with Hanok, a standard Korean residence constructed centuries in the past. The Hanbok is a colourful conventional Korean costume worn by the princes and princesses of Joseon.
Actually, town’s village of Yongju Hanok might be the one such place within the nation that holds Hanok, now at 800 individuals, in stark distinction to the trendy buildings of the encompassing metropolis. Over the previous few years, the village has turn out to be a go-to place for vacationers – Koreans and foreigners are the identical – As a prototype for understanding how a area appeared and felt centuries in the past, and never solely expertise it, but in addition expertise it.
That is why there are quite a few retailers and boutiques providing Hanboks for rental (for women and men), with fat-like equipment reminiscent of hair clips, footwear and even matching purses. With photograph cubicles and photographers in all places, Jeongju’s metropolis is all the time stuffed with images and reeling actions. However there’s nothing above. The tempo may be very sluggish, relaxed and nonetheless not but.
The variety of guests to this distinctive village of Hanok has elevated sharply for the reason that 2000s, growing from 3.17 million to 7.89 million between 2007 and 2014. (Picture: Divya a)
Now, I’m wondering on the time that Jeongju Village was designated as a global sluggish metropolis in 2010, recognizing the relaxed tempo of life through which conventional tradition and nature mix in concord. Gradual Metropolis is a worldwide recognition supplied by the Italian group Cittaslow Worldwide, which promotes a slower, extra peaceable lifestyle, with an emphasis on the preservation of cultural heritage and traditions. A number of cities in China, Japan, Taiwan and Türkiye are additionally listed.
The variety of guests to this distinctive village of Hanok has elevated sharply for the reason that 2000s, growing from 3.17 million to 7.89 million between 2007 and 2014. However nonetheless, there’s a complete sense of calm, restraint, and custom. There is not any horns, chaos, speaking about one another, or breathlessness from city life.
Apparently, Jeongju metropolis itself has performed an essential position in Korea’s lengthy historical past. It was thought-about the non secular capital of a delighted dynasty. Town of Jeongju was the house of the ancestors of the YI household and dominated the Hoshaun dynasty for over 500 years.
Guests to Jeonjy Hanbok village. (Picture: Divya a)
Data present that the primary settlers arrived within the Yoko space greater than 10,000 years in the past and settled on the foot of the mountain. Regularly, they unfold throughout the encompassing flat land, and lots of villages had been born. The village of Hanok is a hint of its previous and continues to flourish immediately.
Conventional Hanok homes are typically divided into two sections: anchor (inner quarter) and salanche (males’s quarter). As the person and girl should stay separate, Anche is positioned deep inside the home, so it’s secret and quiet, and it turns into secret and quiet.
Nevertheless, one other distinctive characteristic of Hanok is that each residence’s flooring are heated with an Ondoll system. Koreans want to keep up the warmth as they get pleasure from sitting, consuming, and sleeping on the ground. Apparently, the ground is designed to remain cool in the summertime.
Even immediately, a few of Hanok’s options proceed to affect the trendy elements of ground heating, floor-sitting tradition, and Jim Jill Bang (Korean Spa). Nevertheless, the hanbock is at present solely worn on fairly a number of events, reminiscent of conventional holidays, weddings, and essential household occasions.
Moreover Hanok and Hanbok in Jeongju village, guests can get pleasure from conventional Korean life and conventional meals like Bibimbap, the area’s most well-known dish.
*The writer was in Korea on the invitation of a Korean tourism company.
