What do you do to journey again to 14th-century Korea, of the instances of the Joseon dynasty, whereas being firmly footed within the twenty first century? Town of Jeonju could provide some cues – the place you step right into a hanbok and stroll throughout streets lined with hanoks, the standard Korean properties constructed centuries in the past. Hanbok is the colorful conventional Korean costume, worn by the Joseon princes and princesses.
In reality, Jeonju Hanok Village within the metropolis is arguably the one such place within the nation that has retained hanoks, 800 of them presently, presenting a stark distinction to the fashionable buildings within the metropolis round it. Over the previous couple of years, the village has changed into a go-to spot for vacationers — Koreans and foreigners alike — as a prototype to get a way of what the area seemed and felt like, centuries in the past, and never simply get the ethos, but additionally expertise it.
So there are a large number of outlets and boutiques providing hanboks on hire (for women and men), full with dainty equipment resembling hair clips, sneakers, and even matching purses. There are picture cubicles and photographers throughout, and the streets of Jeonju are at all times crammed with photoshoots and reel-making actions. Nevertheless, nothing is excessive or noisy. The tempo is remarkably sluggish, relaxed, and nonetheless.
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The variety of guests to this distinctive hanok village has elevated sharply because the 2000s, and virtually doubled between 2007 and 2014, from 3.17 million to 7.89 million. (Photograph: Divya A)
Now surprise then, that Jeonju village was designated as a global Gradual Metropolis in 2010 in recognition of its relaxed tempo of life the place conventional tradition and nature mix harmoniously. Gradual Metropolis is a worldwide recognition provided by the Italian organisation Cittaslow Worldwide, which promotes a slower, extra peaceable lifestyle with an emphasis on preserving cultural heritage and traditions. There are a number of cities from China, Japan, Taiwan, and Turkey on the record as nicely, from Asia.
The variety of guests to this distinctive hanok village has elevated sharply because the 2000s, and virtually doubled between 2007 and 2014, from 3.17 million to 7.89 million. However regardless of that, there’s an overarching sense of calm, restraint and custom; no honking, no chaos, no speaking over one another or breathlessness of metropolis life.
Curiously, town of Jeonju itself has performed a key position within the lengthy historical past of Korea. It was thought to be the non secular capital of the Joseon Dynasty. Jeonju Metropolis is the ancestral house of the Yi household, who dominated the Joseon Dynasty for greater than 500 years.
Guests on the jeonjy hanbok village. (Photograph: Divya A)
In line with information, the primary settlers arrived within the Jeonju space over 10,000 years in the past, settling across the foot of a mountain. Regularly, they unfold to the encircling flat land, and plenty of villages got here into being. The current hanok village is a vestige of that previous, which continues to thrive within the current.
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Conventional hanok homes are typically divided into two sections, Anchae (inside quarters) and Sarangchae (males’s quarters). As a result of women and men have to stay separate, Anchae is located deep inside the home in order that it’s secretive and quiet, as per the Joseon custom.
Nevertheless, one other distinctive trait of a hanok is that the flooring of all the homes are heated with the ondol system. Since Koreans take pleasure in sitting, consuming, and sleeping on the ground, it wants to stay heated. Curiously, the flooring are designed to stay cool in the summertime.
Even at this time, some options of hanok proceed to affect facets of contemporary life: heated flooring, floor-sitting tradition, and jjimjilbang (Korean spa). Nevertheless, the hanbok is now worn solely on important events resembling conventional holidays, weddings, and essential household occasions.
Moreover the hanok and the hanbok, on the Jeonju village, guests can take pleasure in conventional Korean life and conventional meals like bibimbap, probably the most well-known dish from the area.
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* The author was in South Korea on the invitation of the Korea Tourism Organisation
