hanoksori

A: I've been running Hanok Sori for about a year now. Originally, this space wasn't created to be a commercial lodging facility; it was meant to be a private hideout for my friends and me. Midway through, our plans changed when someone suggested it would make a wonderful accommodation for guests, so we transitioned it. I’m not originally from around here, but after seeing someone else run a Hanok guesthouse, it looked quite appealing. That was when I started looking closer at this neighborhood—it looked exceptionally clean, safe, and had an incredible atmosphere.

A: The most authentically traditional and my absolute favorite spot is the toenmaru (wooden veranda). I love sitting on the veranda, watching stray cats wander past, and just taking in the Hanok scenery. In the evening, thanks to all the lights we installed throughout the yard, watching them turn on all at once makes me feel so peaceful and comforted. It's also lovely to just sit behind the large glass windows with the curtains drawn back. Other guests tell me the space feels much more luxurious than they anticipated, which makes me relieved since that was exactly what I had intended. The house might look a bit small in photos, but I put a lot of effort into maximizing the spatial layout to make it feel wide and open.

A: Traveling and walking around all day can be exhausting, so rather than having guests try to do too many things inside the accommodation, I just want them to experience pure, comfortable rest. Fortunately, many of our guests say they truly had a relaxing time. Whenever large families inquire about booking, I always let them know beforehand that the space isn't massive since it's tailored for up to 4 people. I selected the largest size for the bedding, and designed the main wooden beams (daedulbo) to blend seamlessly with the lighting. My goal was to showcase the Hanok with as much openness as possible, highlighting the unique features of Korean architecture that set it apart from other structures.

A: Some guests come with their children and spend time drawing pictures out in the yard. Other guests who come to play games see those drawings and strike up conversations about them. While landscaping with stones, gravel, and plants is a common way to beautify a yard, I thought it would be incredibly fun and meaningful to let our guests naturally shape the space themselves. People often assume Hanoks are cramped and outdated. I wanted our guests to feel that while our house is old, it is refined and sophisticated, so I paid close attention to those details—such as installing tiles instead of traditional linoleum flooring, and custom-crafting the furniture by sanding and interlocking raw timber. I am deeply grateful to the guests who recognize and appreciate these touches.

A: As you probably noticed on your way here, ginkgo trees line both sides of the street. When the leaves drop in spring, summer, and autumn, it is breathtakingly beautiful. The neighborhood features a local Confucian school (Hyanggyo), along with tiny craft workshops and cozy cafes tucked away in the alleys. The overall atmosphere of the village when the streetlights turn on is incredibly serene and warm. Just a short walk past this area leads you to Okridan-gil, and walking down the Okcheon stream connects you directly to Dongcheon stream, so taking a full stroll around the town is highly recommended. Even my parents were amazed, saying it’s an old neighborhood but it doesn't feel old-fashioned at all. "Jubok" and "Yeongdong Sikdang" are very famous local spots, and they definitely live up to the hype. I especially recommend Yeongdong Sikdang.

A: Doing everything entirely by hand made me feel immensely proud, but it was also incredibly exhausting. The hardest part was navigating the licensing process, as we wanted to make sure absolutely everything was done strictly by the book. It required continuous meetings with City Hall. Because the existing house structure was relatively small under my criteria, adapting to the strict regulations meant some things couldn't turn out exactly as I had originally envisioned. Aside from that, the process of building and running the house has honestly been pure joy. The business owners and workers who came to help looked upon me kindly, and I received an immense amount of support from wonderful people.