Seongyojang House of Gangneung
Address: 63, Unjeong-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do
How to get there
By bus: From Gangneung Station, take the #300 bus and ride for 11 stops, which will take about 21 minutes. Get off at Ojukheon bus stop and then wait for the #202 bus. Ride this bus for a further 3 stops, which takes about 2 minutes, and get off at Seongyojang bus stop. The #300 bus arrives around every 20 minutes, but the #202 bus has a long interval of around 40 minutes.
By taxi or on foot: If your timing is good, you can catch both buses but if not, you might be waiting for some time. In this case, I'd recommend getting off at Ojukheon bus stop and walking for about 17 minutes, or you could take a taxi from the station. The taxi fare would cost around 5,000 won and the whole journey would take 10 minutes.
Admission
The house is open to visitors every day (excluding special holidays) from 9:00-18:00 during the summer, but closing time is slightly earlier in the winter. An individual adult ticket costs 5,000 won. For further information on admission, you can take a look at the website here (only in Korean).
Seongyojang House
Seongyojang House is a Korean traditional Hanok house which dates back over 300 years. It was home to a noble family for 10 generations, and some of the original founder's descendants still live in part of the house to this day. Facing Gyeongpo Lake, the house consists of several buildings and 12 gates. At the entrance you'll find Hwallaejeong Pavilion, which looks out on a small, square pond which, in the summer, is densely packed with vibrant green leaves and pretty pink lotus flowers. For me, this was one of the most impressive parts of the house.
The house and gardens are very peaceful and quiet. You'll feel calm and at ease when strolling between the stone walls and watching dragonflies hovering above the brightly coloured flowers.
These days the house is open to visitors throughout the year, and there are several cultural programmes on offer, such as making tea and woodcraft. Some of the buildings are used for Hanok stays, and there is a trail that takes you up a hill so that you can get a great view of the house. There is also a café and restaurant which both sell traditional Korean food.
So if you're looking to take a break from the beach and want to immerse yourself in Korea's rich history and culture, take a peaceful stroll around Seongyojang House.