Nakan Eupseong Folk Village (Photo by Hyemin Lee)
Nakan Eupseong Folk Village is my favorite place among all the wonderful destinations in Suncheon City. Exploring this village makes me feel like I’ve traveled in a time machine to the Joseon Dynasty 600 years ago.
The walled town was built during the late Goryeo and early Joseon Dynasty to defend the village against frequent invasions by Japanese pirates. This is neither a theme park nor movie set, but an authentic folk village that has existed and preserved its original form to present day.
Unlike Hanok villages where aristocrats lived in tile-roofed houses, Nakan Eupseong Folk Village retains a cluster of the thatched-roof houses where commoners lived. This is truly a peaceful place preserving the indigenous values of old Korea as if time stopped here hundreds of years ago. Even today, Suncheon locals live in the thatched-roof houses in Nakan Eupseong Folk Village.
Nakan Eupseong Folk Village (Photo by Hyemin Lee)
While wandering through this picturesque village, enjoy your time as a time traveler to old Korea.
Address: 6-4 Pyeongchon-ri, Nakan-myeon, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do, Naver Map
Hours: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Parking: Free
Ticket: Children 1,500 won / Teens 2,500 won / Adults 4,000 won
Things to do
Experience lifestyle of Joseon people
Visitors can experience the lifestyle and culture of common people in the Joseon era through various experience programs, including a traditional wedding, funeral ceremony, playing traditional instruments. Most of the activities are run by locals and free of charge!
It’s highly recommended to visit during the weekends if you’re interested in enjoying experience programs, folk festivals and watching traditional performances. Sometimes, local staff may cancel programs earlier if there aren’t enough visitors.
Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Many programs are closed on Mon.)
Nakan Eupseong Folk Village (Photo courtesy of Nakan Eupseong Folk Village)
Stay at local’s thatched-roof houses
If you want to create a memorable experience in Suncheon, I strongly recommend staying overnight at this folk village. Many locals in the village run homestays where they rent out their own houses to tourists. During your stay, you can enjoy a garden BBQ party and take a nighttime stroll to stargaze and experience the folk village on your own.
Five Kong Thatched House Stay (다섯콩초가집 민박)
This place provides spacious and clean beds while most others run by locals offer only flat blankets instead of beds. Also, it’s unmanned with a self-check-in and check-out system for more privacy. It’s a bit pricier compared to other accommodations around the village, but definitely worth it for its cleanliness, comfort and beautiful exterior.
Price: 100,000 won to 170,000 won for two to five people
Five Kong Thatched House Stay (Photo by Hyemin Lee)
Capture the best view at the top of the town wall
To get a panoramic view of the entire village, climb up to the southwestern part of the fortress wall, where a signature photo spot awaits. Walking through the fortress usually takes only 10-20 minutes, making it perfect for a leisurely stroll. Whether you visit in the morning or at sunset, you can find one of the most distinctive sceneries in Korea here, so make sure to capture the moment with a photo!
Nakan Eupseong Folk Village (Photo by Hyemin Lee)
