MAR 10, 19 .. SEOUL SOUTH KOREA .. THE KOREAN FOLK VILLAGE

As I just did on my most recent post of March 9th, I must say to my friends Peter and Lisa : Thank You both for telling me about the Korean Folk Village and then making it possible for me to visit it.

The Korean Folk Village is located South of downtown Seoul in Yongin. You will all get a kick-out-of-this. Well at least I got a kick out of this.

The Seoul, South Korea, greater Metropolitan Area is similar to that of Los Angeles, California, in that one can not tell one city from another city unless perhaps you live there. '' 

In my 'mind's-eye', I was thinking of Yongin as something of a 'quaint' Korean Village. After all we were about to visit a Korean Folk Village weren't we?

I did some 'homework' before we set out for the village.

Here are some numbers:

Seoul, S. Korea : 9.8 million people

Seoul, S. Korea Metro Area : 25.6 million people

Yongin, S. Korea : 910,000 people

Trip Advisor : Restaurants in Yongin : 6,491

So much for Yongin, South Korea being a Village.

Onward to a visit to the Korean Folk Village in Yongin, South Korea.

We are approaching the entrance to the Folk Village.

Lisa dropped Peter and I off at the Folk Museum to save us all from the issue of parking their car. 

When I saw the enormous / gigantic packed-parking lot appearing to be almost full I said to Peter : "With all of these cars / tour buses will there be room for us within the Folk Village?" Peter assured me that there would be room for us.

Now, after a long walk from where Lisa dropped Peter and me off, we've arrived at the entrance to the Village.

When I snapped the below photo, I did not focus upon the fact that the fees that I photographed are for groups. 17,000 Korean Won : US $14.96.

Ah the joy of aging! 

"Peter did you pay my admission fee?" 

If you did : Thank You. IF you did not : Thank You.  

Inside we go!

WHOA! 

Peter told me.. 

Peter assured me.. 

That there would be room for us inside the park.

"Wow Peter! You were spot-on! It looks empty in here!"

In my Trip Advisor review of the Village I wrote (in part):

The Korean Folk Village is absolutely enormous. When we arrived, the parking lot itself was enormous. I asked my friends IF we would even be able to get into the Folk Village with so many cars / visitors. They confidently told me that there would be absolutely no problem getting into the Village. They were absolutely correct. The lines to purchase tickets were relatively short and they moved very quickly. The instant we passed through the entryway I was amazed that there were only a moderate number of people visible. So much for there being a crowd. Do seniors get a discount? I am an 82-year old senior and my friends paid for my admission so I don't know.


This size of the Village presents a problem IF you are a senior citizen with some walking restrictions. The good news is that there seemed to be ample places to sit and to rest. But it still requires a lot of walking IF you want to see say 50 to 75% of the Village. In my opinion it is far too large to see it all in one outing. Yes there also seemed to be toilets handy when I needed one.

Below is a photo of a map showing the site. As you look at the below map, see that this is one enormous venue.  

Peter told me that IF the local Korean people dressed-up in traditional attire their admission was free.

IF I saw as many as ten western touristy visitors I would be amazed. The Korean people were out-in-force. They are interested in, and, they honor their ancestors.

Now I'll stop talking so much and I'll show you photos of the Village.

"Amazing Peter! The Village looks empty! Who belongs to all of those cars / tour buses out in that mammoth parking lot?"

Well! At last! A few people. But NO crowding whatsoever!

Patti asked me : "What are the rocks  about?"

I replied : "I haven't a clue!"

Now something really special.

The shop below is a photo / traditional costume attire venue.

As Peter gently but firmly guided me into the above shop he said ..

"Cap. This really means a lot to me. I want to get a photo of the two of us."

Once in awhile .. From time-to-time .. IT happens ..

From time-to-time 'I nail it'. 

And this time : I nailed-it!

Your Captain here did NOT .. DID NOT .. rain on Peter's parade.

Your Captain did NOT .. DID NOT .. say nor did he even imply the following : "Peter I do NOT do these places. They are expensive and they overcharge and .. and .. and ... blah blah blah .."

Nope. As he reads these words the above will be new information to Peter.

And! 

It was a lot of fun indeed.

Now, after the above merriment with Peter and me, we will go further on into the Folk Village.

Below are photos of traditional craftsmen in ancient times.

On Trip Advisor I did note that, after awhile all of the traditional, thatched roof  edifices began to look alike.

Not all of the historic and traditional edifices were thatched roofed.

By the way, I have failed to explain that the large, glazed, earthenware vessels, such as those in the lower right corner of the photo below, are the manner in which traditional Korean Kimchi is fermented.

More Kimchi fermentation vessels are visible on the right side of the below photo.

This bridge and its views were very enjoyable.

A few more formal, non-thatched-roof, temples.

A change-of-scene.

Traditional Buddhist prayer flags.

Let's say goodbye and all of us leave the Korean Folk Village with a little music from a fun marching band.

AND THE BAND PLAYED 'WALTZING MATILDA'

Peter and I hope you enjoyed our tour of the Korean Folk Village.

I'll sign off here as ..

Peter and Cap 

And?

A final post script to the above wonderful adventure, one last THANK YOU PETER for the great day.