Set in the foothills of the Namsan Mountain is Namsangol Hanok Village. Back in the Joseon era, the settlement was a well-known recreation site especially during the summer months. For its beautiful scenery which included a stream and a pavilion, the area was also called Cheonghak-dong which translates to "the land of blue cranes." The Namsangol Hanok Village as we know it was opened in 1998, after the history took its toll on the city. Along with relocated and restored hanok buildings housed inside, a traditional garden and a village were recreated to offer a peak of what life might have been like for royalty and commoners during Joseon Dynasty.
There is a range of activities you can participate here for free. First, the main tour of the area provides insights into the village along with interesting stories behind it. Some of the last royal family members' residences used be housed here, so you can imagine there's a plenty of drama, romance and tragedy that went on here. The tour will last for 50 minutes and is available in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese. What we recommend you try along with the tour is the tea ceremony offered inside a beautiful hanok, where you can learn the traditional way of making Korean tea (and also drink it). If you ever wanted to dress up in hanok, this village would be one of the best places for it. You can rent a full outfit at 10,000 won and take the most Intagram-worthy pictures. You can dress up in a traditional costume and enjoy tea in a traditional way, too, of course. Visitors are also welcome to learn how to make a hanji (traditional handmade paper) origami and fold up miniature hanbok costumes. If you're interested in arts and crafts, stop by to watch some artisans create traditional straw handicrafts, as well. Check out Namsangol Hanok Village's website for further details and special events.