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Garam Choyeonjae offers guests a variety of charming features, particularly the harmonious natural environment which creates a serene and relaxing atmosphere. Situated in Hahoe, which is partially enclosed by the Nakdonggang River, Garam Choyeonjae stands out among the village’s many hanok houses due to its beautiful thatched roof. The village has become a popular tourist destination thanks to the distinguished natural landscape along the Nakdonggang River, its 100 ~ 200-year-old hanok houses, and nearby Buyongdae Cliff, which commands a panoramic view of the village.
The name of the house is a compound word consisting of ‘garam’, which is the pen-name of the house’s owner, a 15th–generation descendant of Ryu Seong-ryong (pen-name: Seoae, 1542-1607, a scholar-official of the Joseon Dynasty), and ‘choyeonjae’, which means “a thatched house in which swallows live.” Guests can even see the swallows and their nests under the rafters and eaves of this simple, cozy hanok.
The house is also surrounded by various well-known buildings such as Damyeonjae House, the largest and oldest hanok in the village; Yangjindang House (Treasure No. 306); and Binyeonjeongsa House (National Folklore Cultural Heritage No. 86), which was built and used as a library by Ryu Un-yong (pen-name: Gyeomam).
Garam Choyeonjae consists of two rectangular hanok buildings with clean and well-maintained rooms exuding a traditional and antique atmosphere. In particular, the house’s beautifully maintained thatched roof attracts many foreign visitors. The house also provides various experience programs, including an opportunity to use a treadmill, millstone, and mortar, and a gat-making experience (a gat is a Korean traditional hat made of bamboo and horsehair). Moreover, visitors are highly recommended to appreciate the fantastic view of the sunset from the wooden floor of the house’s sarangchae (men’s quarters), and the beautiful garden planted with seasonal wildflowers. |
