The Way to Bukjeong Village (Hanyangdoseong)
Hanyangdoseong holds the 600 years of the history of Seoul/Hanyang. As you walk along the Hanyangdoseong, you will find yourself wondering if this is the same Seoul that was filled with large modern buildings.
‘Hyehwamun’ㅣThis walking tour begins at Hyehwamun, one of the 4 minor city gates of Hanyangdoseong.
We walk along Hanyangdoseong for about 30 minutes and watch the nearby village. Old homes, traditional houses, churches with history – old-fashioned elegance is gathered at Seongbuk-dong.
More than anything, the scenery of countless houses gathered along the hillside was most memorable.
It’s because it’s difficult to find a scenery in Seoul where there isn’t a single apartment or high-story building
‘Waryong Park’ㅣ At Waryong Park, the beauty of the Hanyangdoseong reaches its peak. As you walk along the wall, you can see from afar another aspect of Seoul, filled with low buildings and houses.
Each house has a different shape, and a different roof color, boasting a scenery rich in color.
That they built houses along the hillside like this was simply astonishing, and the fact that such a place was in Seoul was very new to even a Korean like me.
Walking slowly while admiring the sights of the village, we’ve already climbed up so high!
☘ Bukjeong Village
‘Daldongne Bukjeong Village’ㅣ There are very few daldongne left in Seoul, as most have gone through urban renewal. Here, you can meet the view of Seoul decades ago. The Seoul of old is that well preserved.
This is the ‘guide map’ of Bukjeong Village.
Seeing the state of the guide map, can you tell how old this village is?
Finding such traces of the Seoul of old is the charm of today’s walking tour.
As you walk along Bukjeong Village, you can easily find abandoned houses.
Like how many people move from the countryside to Seoul, wouldn’t many people from this village have moved to a larger neighborhood in Seoul?
It’s a bit spooky, so we’ll speed through this area
It looks like they’ve painted these houses recently. This was the “most colorful” place in this daldongne.
It’s the “ART” you can find in Bukjeong Village 
☘ Simujang
✔ What is Simujang?
⇒ The mid-late 1930s, when independence activist Han Yong-un lived in Simujang, was the period when Japanese imperialism was at its peak, and there was powerful suppression against independence movements. Han Yong-un refused to compromise to the Japanese up until the very end, and the Simujang where he lived became a place symbolizing national pride.
There are various ways to get to Simujang.
However the way to Simujang from Bukjeong was twisted and winded, and was not easy. It was like a maze.
As the way to Simujang was rough, the sentiment once we reached Simujang was much more touching.
They say this pine tree was here even before Manhae Han Yong-un had moved here.
From the Japanese colonial rule, the independence of Korea, to today, this pine tree had been around for countless historical events of Korea.
Simujang was historical site with huge effort to put in to retain as much of its past form as possible. You could even see some items that Han Yong-un had used himself.
Most significantly, there were no restrictions on visitors, so we could freely see and feel the area up close.
❝ Han Yong-un passed away about a year before liberation. Watching the pine tree and the sky through this door, we try to fathom the mind of Han Yong-un, who deeply yearned for the independence of Korea. ❞
☕ A Cafe with Both Taste and Style
‘Cafe o o o’ㅣ While we cannot reveal the cafe’s name (respecting the owner’s wishes ), this cafe sells flavorful tea and dessert in a charming space inside a hanok
Here you can personally smell the scent of the tea, and order the tea you want.
The tea I ordered today is “Peach Ending “. I chose it because the sweet scent of peach was so good.
I ordered tea and their famous matcha dessert, and looked around the cafe interior.
The place is very small. It’s small, but it’s cozy. Despite being a hanok, it doesn’t feel old and worn out, but rather the vintage vibe make it more attractive. Most importantly, lots of warm sunlight shines in, making it great for taking pictures.
This is the special( ) room prepared separately outside. When a group of 4 people or more visits, they open this room.
The inside wasn’t fancy, but it was quiet and cozy, an area just for me.
The tea and dessert I ordered arrived.
I had ordered ‘Peach Ending’ tea and a ‘matcha’ dessert.
❝Here, I met the most delicous matcha dessert I’ve ever tasted.❞
Among cafes with a great interior, it’s difficult to find a place where the tea and the dessert is also delicious. This place has amazing style, but the flavor was also impeccable.
The dessert I found here wasn’t cake or a baked good you could find in any other common cafe. It was impressive because I met this menu item for the first time in my life, and so I really wanted to introduce it to you as well. Make sure to visit and taste the menu items only available at this place!
How was it? Bukjeong Village is truly a tranquil place, right?
The Hanyandoseong preserved above the city really catches our eyes. The harmony of the 600-year-old Hanyangdoseong and the daldongne Bukjeong Village. How about seeing it for yourself and meeting the other side of Seoul? You can only meet it through Creatrip.
If you have questions about information not covered in the blog post, please email us at [email protected]