Traditional neighborhood in Seoul, South Korea
Bukchon Hanok Village (Korean: 북촌한옥마을) is a residential neighborhood in Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea. It has many restored traditional Korean houses, called hanok. This has made it a popular tourist destination, which has caused some friction with the residents who live there.[1]
History
The area of Bukchon, which consists of neighborhoods: Wonseo-dong, Jae-dong, Gye-dong, Gahoe-dong and Insa-dong, was traditionally the residential quarter of high-ranking government officials and nobility during the Joseon period. It is located north of the stream Cheonggyecheon and Jongno, hence named Bukchon, which means north village.[2][3]
Tourism
A poll of nearly 2,000 foreign visitors, conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in November 2011, stated that exploring the narrow streets of Bukchon was their fourth favorite activity in Seoul.[4]
According to data by the Bukchon Traditional Culture Center, 30,000 people visited the area in 2007. However, after the village was featured in television programmes, such as 2 Days & 1 Night and Personal Taste, the number rose to 318,000 in 2010.[5] Between October 2016 and June 2017, the Tourism Research institute reported that an estimated 37,100 people visited during the week and 54,200 people visited on weekends.[1]
Concerns from locals
People currently still live in the area; in 2016 it was reported that 3,534 people live in the village. Tourists greatly outnumber residents, which has caused some friction. Some residents have put up signs that discourage tourists from loitering near their homes.[1] The Seoul tourism website advises visitors to keep noise levels to a minimum, avoiding littering, keeping group sizes small (fewer than 10 people per group), and respecting the privacy of each home.[6]
