2. Korea’s Representative Clan Villages:
Hahoe and Yangdong
There are different types of historic villages in Korea, including clan villages and
town fortresses.
A clan village, where people sharing the same last name live together, began to
form in the early Joseon period and accounted for about 80 percent of all villages
in the late Joseon times.
A clan village refers to a village where a single clan or a small number of clans
comprise the great majority of the total population or played a leading role in
making decisions on important village affairs.
Hahoe and Yangdong are Korea’s representative clan villages and yangban
(nobility) villages.
3. Characteristics of Historic Villages
Hahoe and Yangdong are both ideally
located, with a mountain in the back and a
river in the front.
Houses in the villages were designed to
adjust to hot and humid summers as well
as cold and dry winters, while the layout of
the houses conforms to Confucian rules.
The residence of jongga (head family of a
clan), which is a key element to a
yangban clan village, private houses,
study halls, pavilions, seowon (Confucian
academy for learning) and village schools
surrounded by farmlands and the clean
natural environment.
The villages are also abundant in spiritual
heritages such as old traditional games,
ancient publications and works of art.
Hahoe Village in Andong
Yangdong Village in Gyeongju
5. Hahoe Village in Andong (Cont…)
Nakdonggang River meanders through the village
of Hahoe, meaning “at a river’s bend.
Surrounded by low hills, the village is situated in a
beautiful site, with the river coiling around it.
Hahoe Village was formed in the late Goryeo period
when three clans with last names of Heo, Ahn and
Ryu came to find a new settlement. It became a
village exclusively for the Ryu clan in the late 17th
century.
At present, some 100 households live in the village.
Source: “Painting of Hahoe Village "Cultural Heritage Administration
6. Yangjindang House, the symbol of the Ryu clan
Chunghyodang House
Home of the Seong-ryong, a
prominent scholar from Hahoe Village
Byeongsan Seowon, Hwacheon Seowon, places of learning Thatched-roof House,
The humble residence of commoners
8. Yangdong Village (Cont…)
Yangdong Village was created in the early Joseon period when two
clans—the Lee clan and the Son clan—became related by marriage.
A man from the Son clan moved to his wife’s family and the
descendants settled down in Yangdong.
It is a typical yangban (nobility) village that was built along the
hillsides and valleys.
Yangban residences with tile roof houses are found up in the valleys,
as the location helps residents stay cool in summer and warm in
winter.
Thatched-roof houses that belonged to commoners are clustered
below them. The landscape in the village was rearranged in line
with Joseon’s hierarchical social order set by different classes.
9. Seobaekdang House,
The residence of the head family of the Son clan
Mucheomdang House
The residence of the head family of
Yeoju Lee clan
Hyangdan,
A mansion that looks highly distinctive
Donggang Seowon, Oksan Seowon,
Dokrakdang House, Confucian academies
10. Directions
Hahoe : From Andong Bus Terminal, take bus 46 to Hahoe Village
(하회마을).
* Bus 46 Info: 06:20-18:20, runs 10 times a day
Yangdong : Take bus 200~208, 212 or 217 from Gyeongju Bus
Terminal or Gyeongju Station to Yangdong Village.
(1.2km walk from bus stop to the village) (7min intervals, Travel
time : 40min)
11. Information Links
Tourist Information - Hahoe
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264148
Tourist Information - Yangdong
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=804281