Korea Life Blog - Yong In

A few weeks ago I visited a traditional village in Yong In, near Suwon. You can buy tour tickets across the street from Suwon station. The ticket rate varies depending on which attractions you want to see. The most basic ticket, around 10,000 Won, includes the bus fare and the general entrance fee. For a few thousand more Won, you can get access to the "World Folklore Museum" and a national art museum (which was closed the day I went). The general fee gets you access to the traditional village which includes some unique gift stores and restaurants. Oddly enough, there's also an amusement park featuring such rides as the Viking and bumper cars (on a pay-per-ride basis, of course).



The entrance to the "World Folklore Museum." There are 8 countries featured here. Have your ticket ready, but don't worry - if you didn't pay up before you can still pay here.


Each of these small buildings houses some cultural artifacts from a specific country. Some of the countries include China, Japan, America, and Africa. They did a really nice job here. Once you start walking around, it feels like you're in a different country all together, save for the Korean people walking around and the high rise apartments inevitably looming in the distance.



Here is a photo of me in the Africa building. At last, a place where I don't stand out in the crowd. Some people hardly even noticed me...



Wow, lovely! A traditional fan and unique umbrella found in the Japanese building.



Some colorful artwork from which country I just can't remember. The important lesson here is how to steal artwork and publish it online for free. Just hold the camera steady!



What's this? An honorary life-like statue of Korea Life Blog Guy? Wow, what a surprise!



A small rice field from days of old. The cultivaters lived in small huts like the ones in the background. Those poor people of the past - they never could know the peace and tranquility that modern life and all it's wonderful inventions, designed to make live covenient and easy, has given us...



A traditional storage shed with traditional farming tools and, well, I guess, traditional wood.



This must be a traditional peasant's home. Looks like it was quite a peaceful existence with plenty to eat.



You can stop into one of the stores and buy traditional style alcohol drinks such as Bek Se Ju for double the cost you can buy them in any regular store in Korea.



Near the exit, like an army of brown Humpty-Dumpty midgets: a throng of traditional jugs used originally for storing soy bean sauce and red pepper paste.


Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you have a wonderfully traditional day!