South Korean Cultural Experience
Part of what makes South Korea unique is the manner in which the new norms blend right in with the traditional mores. As a visitor, it may be strangely challenging to connect with the cultural activities, traditions, and standards of the local people. This feat is especially difficult in the large cities such as Seoul. One may quite easily be immersed into the modern aspects of the city. As such, the overwhelming cosmopolitan facilities, social amenities, and modernization flavors that characterize these sorts of cities may dominate the visit alienating one from the true cultural experience of the people. In my visit to Seoul, I was able to capture the utterly unique and cultural value of the Korea. From face value, one could easily tell that the city has remained solidly Korean as characterized by the adamant retention of traditional architecture amidst rapid development and modernization as well as the warming traditions of the locals. The city is key to understanding the ways of the people through their history.
As alluded to in the introduction, one of the most interesting aspect of the city of Seoul is the eclectic blend between the traditional features and modernization. To fully immerse myself into the culture of the Koreans, I visited one of the standing traditional neighborhoods in the city amidst the wave of gentrification that has grasped it in recent days. I spent the better part of the afternoon wandering the streets of the old part of the town named Bukchon Hanok Village. The streets were alive with locals pacing all around and bustling through with activities in the sultry atmosphere.
The Bukchon Hanok Village is located behind two of Seoul’s chronicled royal residences namely Gyeongbok and Changdeok. The village stands guard to a nearly 600-year history of the city, dating back to the Joseon dynasty that had ruled the Korean empire for five hundred years ending in 1897. As a matter of fact, the upper class of the Korean kingdom had called this charming scenery home for centuries before the rule of the family came to a halt. The village is stringed with many alleys separating the traditional stone and clay houses that are maintained regularly and reconstructed as a means of preservation. Despite the influx of modern items such as boutiques, upscale houses, small museums, modern cafes, and hotels, the city retains the five-centuries-old empire-like atmosphere of the Joseon dynasty. The neighborhood’s scenic location on the steep hillsides in the northern part of the city affords great views of Seoul.
In conclusion, the visit to the Bukchon Hanok Village was enjoyable. The convoluted streets and bucolic stone and clay housing structures afford the village a scenic view. It is no surprise that it is one of the best tourist attractions in the country. It is definitely one of the few remaining areas that preserve the perception of the old kingdom of Korea. Its location on the steep hillside is picturesque and offers a photogenic view of the city of Seoul.