I’ve visited various traditional folk villages during my trips to Korea, but Hahoe (하회) is the most meaningful to me. It is located in the place where I was born: Andong. This 600 year old village carries the honor of being a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can visit Andong by taking an express bus or train from Seoul. It is worth the trek. Not that I’m biased at all…
“Hahoe” translates literally to a River Turning Around. It was named for the Nakdong River which flows around the village in an S shape. Hahoe is a popular tourist destination, but it was quiet and peaceful during our weekday visit. The small ₩ 3,000 (~$3) entrance fee goes towards preservation of the historic village.
Before leaving, we stopped for Patbingsu (Korean shaved ice) and to pick up a few bottles of traditional Andong soju, which is produced exclusively in the North Gyeongsang Province using a blend of fermented and distilled rice and grains.
