A screenshot taken from EBS' documentary 'Korea Travel' on Bukchon's Hanok [Courtesy of EBS Documentary YouTube channel]
[Courtesy of EBS Documentary YouTube channel]
A traditional folk village and four other clusters of old Korean houses in Seoul have been designated as special zones to be preserved permanently with state financial aid, city officials said Wednesday.
The Seoul city government said it would subsidize the renovation of traditional houses in the zones with up to 180 million won (151,134 US dollars) each. The construction of modern houses there will be banned.
The zones encompass 550,000 square meters of space in Seoul's five oldest neighborhoods including Bukchon and Insadong to preserve traditional Korean (Hanok) houses known for tiled roofs, small gardens, heated floors, and wooden gates and pillars.
Hanok houses in the zones are obligated to maintain their traditional looks used for hundreds of years. The construction of new Hanok buildings there will get up to 150 million won in financial support from the capital.
The most famous spot in the zones is the Bukchon Hanok Village near the Gyeongbokgung Palace of the Joseon dynasty. It is home to hundreds of traditional houses, many of them operating as cultural centers, guesthouses, restaurants and tea houses that attract foreign tourists, especially from China.
The village provides visitors with an opportunity to experience a traditional culture. A poll of foreign visitors showed that exploring the narrow streets of Bukchon was one of their favorite activities in Seoul.
Aju News Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
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