History | The Tofu Diaries

The Korean Folk Village in Suwon is an open-air living museum recreating life in the Joseon period. Real dwellings were actually relocated to the Folk Village from other parts of the country to provide a realistic glimpse of how both peasants and aristocrats lived in the period. Various shows and workshops take place during the day including the traditional folk music of Pungmul that involves dancing and drumming. Suwon Folk Village, South Korea There’s a lot to see at the Folk Village so allow at least half a day – it is ideal combined with Suwon’s fortress for a full weekend. Easily accessible from Suwon, there are free shuttle buses that run from Suwon Station (outside from exit 5) that run every two hours. Alternatively there are public buses or you can take a taxi (approx. 12,000W each way). The journey takes around half an hour. More details and bus timetables can be found here. Adult entry to the village costs 15,000W.

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Capital of the Gyeonggi Province, Suwon is a lively city with plenty to see and do making it easily worthy of a couple of day’s visit. Located just thirty kilometres south of Seoul, Suwon is also a great option for a day trip without too much travel time if you’re based in Seoul.

One of the biggest draws is Suwon’s Hawseong Fortress. An UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hwaseong encircles the city and boasts panoramic views of the city and surrounding area. Originally built in the later years of the Joseon Dynasty between 1794 and 1796, the fortress unfortunately suffered the same fate as much of the country during the Korean War. Once considered irreparable, thankfully substantial reconstruction work in the 1970s has saved Suwon from becoming another faceless city.The walls of the fortress are a touch over five and a half kilometres, with four major gates to mark each direction with several smaller ones straddling any waterways. Given the length of the walls, it pays to allow a good three or so hours. In summer, I’d give it a bit longer so you can take breaks to cool down… and in winter, so you can take breaks to warm up! As the fortress intertwines with the city (which has long since spilt out of its walls) you’ll come across markets, temples, and plenty of places to eat so allow yourself a little longer if you fancy hopping on and off as you go. It costs 1,000W to walk the city walls. They are open from 9am till 6pm (5pm in winter). Suwon city can be reached from Seoul in less than an hour by bus, train or subway – the nearest subway station being Suwon on line one. Buses also run from other cities across the country.