We took a break from all the rain we were having a few weeks ago to visit Oeam (pronounced something like wee-awm) Folk Village in South Chungcheong, near Asan. Its designation as Important Folklore Cultural Heritage No. 236 makes it an important piece of Korean history. The perfectly preserved traditional houses with the backdrop of Seolhwasan Mountain make this village a breathtakingly beautiful location. Today I’ll share all about our experience exploring the village, as well as give tips so you can visit too!

Oeam Folk Village in Asan

Just a few kilometers away from downtown Asan sits the quaint Oeam Folk Village – a traditional Joseon-era village complete with thatched-roof houses, gardens, and an incredible 6,000 meters of stone walls. Originally founded by the Yean Yi Clan during the reign of King Seonjo (in the late 1500’s, early 1600’s), Oeam Village eventually grew in popularity. During its heyday it was mostly home to nobility.

Even now – some 500 years later, give or take – it continues to be a residential area for farmers and other locals. It currently has a population of 192 people, with most of them farming to some extent. Most of the buildings within the village have the distinctive thatched-roofs, which have to be re-thatched every year by the residents. The technique is one that has been passed down through the centuries in the village.

The coolest thing about Oeam Folk Village is how well preserved it is. Everything from the style of the homes, to the layout of the village reflect what was traditional during the Joseon Period. Small streams connect the gardens at each house to the larger waterway that runs through the village – another aspect that was typical for the time period.

In addition to the town LOOKING the part of a well-preserved, 500-year-old clan village, the residents also regularly participate in rituals and practices that were used during the Joseon Dynasty. Many also prepare foods traditional to the time like bukkumi – a flat half-moon shaped rice cake that is filled and then pan-fried. Fillings can include, but are not limited to: bean paste, honey, sugar, or cinnamon.

Whether you’re visiting in the summer for the lotus flowers (which are GORGEOUS) or in the winter for a way to get out of the house, Oeam Folk Village is worth a visit. It’s cost-effective enough to fit anybody’s budget and the history and culture behind it is extraordinary.

It’s a unique experience and one that almost makes you believe you’ve been transported back to a different time. Even our kids appreciated the unique style of the buildings – although, full disclosure, they were more interested in the 20-30 frogs they found in one of the fields we passed. But to be fair, my husband was also more enthralled with the frogs. Even so, this was the perfect outing for a humid Saturday with the family.

If you’re living near Camp Humphreys, Oeam Folk Village is the perfect weekend experience. It’s close by and incredibly affordable proving, once again, that you don’t need to travel far or sell your kidney to have amazing experiences in South Korea. Our time on the Peninsula is coming far-too-swiftly to a close (although I’m in full denial and will always claim that I’m never leaving), but we have more to do yet. Stay tuned for all of our last-hurrahs – we’ve got some good stuff planned and I cannot wait to share!

’til next time…

Ash

How to visit Oeam Folk Village in Asan

Directions: This is the Naver link you can use to get to the parking lot for Oeam Folk Village in Asan. (If the link is not working, pasting 충남 아산시 송악면 into Naver should also get you there.)

Cost:
Admission
Adults – ₩2,000
Youth/Soldiers – ₩1,000
Children over 7 years – ₩1,000
Children under 7 – FREE
Parking
FREE

*Hours:
Summer Hours
9:00am – 5:30pm daily
Winter Hours
9:00am – 5:00pm daily
*Hours are subject to change at anytime without notice. Information is true according to what was available at the time this post was written.

Amenities: There are bathrooms located in the parking lot, as well as multiple bathrooms located around the village. Although they didn’t appear to be open during our visit, there were small restaurants and cafés outside the ticket office.