Andong and Vicinity: Experience Incredible Korean Traditional Heritage
Written and photographed by Lea Moreau.
As long as I can remember, Andong has been one of my favorite places in Korea. In fact, the very first time I came to Korea, I decided to visit Andong without any second thoughts. I was backpacking around the country and knew so little about the city. For a more authentic experience, I reached out to a local Korean on the Couchsurfing website, and this was to become the start of my adventure. Who would have thought that my host was actually the manager of the Andong Hahoe Folk Village? In fact, he came to pick me up at the bus station, and thanks to him, I visited the Hahoe Hanok Village, known as one of the rare UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Korea.
One of my favorite things about the village is that you can admire the Korean architecture with beautiful thatched-roof houses, making it the perfect photo zone. I remember myself walking around the village and being transported back in time to the Joseon Dynasty. This aspect of Korean culture, and especially the well-preserved Joseon era-style architecture, will amaze you with its beautiful simplicity.
The name of the village, Hahoe, was inspired by the surrounding landscape. Ha is from the Chinese character for “river,” and hoe from “turns around.” It describes how the Nakdong River meanders around the village.
The Hahoe Folk Village is a place you cannot even dream of. It is one of the most authentic and well-preserved places in Korea. For more than 600 years, members of the village have lived together, keeping the same traditions and rituals. Each year, an annual folk festival takes place in the village, showcasing one of the oldest cultural practices: the Hahoe mask dance.
After going back to my host’s house, he cooked for us one of the most famous local dishes: Andong salted mackerel, called gan-godeungeo (간고등어). Having the chance to try homemade local food was an amazing opportunity to taste the “real” Korea.
I thought that was all for the day, but our host decided to take us for a ride. Driving us around the vicinity of Andong, we could get a full view of the potential and treasures the city has to offer.
We first stopped by the Woryeong Bridge (월영교), a great place with beautiful scenery. At night, it is very quiet, and when the sun goes down, the rainbow lights turn on, highlighting the beautiful bridge’s silhouette.
Our night stroll continued into the mountain, and this time, our host brought us to one of the most memorable places I had ever visited in Korea: the Incheon-dong Stone Buddha (incheon-sukbulsang, 인천동 석불상), also known as the Jebiwon Buddha (jebiwon-seokbulsang, 제비원 석불상), a 12-meter-high Buddha carving in the rock hillside from the Goryeo Dynasty standing over the Sobaek Mountains. A lot of legends are associated with this location, but one of the most famous is that if you make a wish at the foot of the Buddha, your wish will come true.
There is such an incredible vibe that arises from this place. Furthermore, you can also visit Yonmi Temple located just next to the Buddha. The whole area is located in the mountains and is incredibly peaceful, making it one of the best places to visit when in Andong. It is also one of the most off-the-beaten-track sites and remains so underrated in Korea.
The next morning, I decided to visit the Andong city center and started off with its most famous bakery: The Mammoth Bakery. As a Frenchwoman, I was pleased to try some of their delicacies, especially the cakes. They were a little pricey but definitely worth the expense. I continued by walking to Sungjingol Mural Village where I enjoyed my time taking pictures of the Mural Painting while observing locals drying hot chili peppers on their rooftops. This mix of traditions and modernity in the city prompted me to reflect a lot on Korea’s culture and lifestyle.
Recently, Andong became famous for providing some of the setting for Mr. Sunshine, a popular TV drama in Korea. Many tourists will now be able to take pictures and recreate some scenes from the drama in one of its most famous locations: Manhyujeong, a traditional Korean pavilion built during the Joseon Dynasty. If you are a K-drama fan, do not miss this opportunity!
Andong is full of potential and a perfect place for a weekend getaway. It is a city that will transport you back in time and allow you to understand more fully what Koreans’ lifestyle was like during the Joseon Dynasty. With its beautiful nature, delicious food, and well-preserved heritage, Andong should definitely be on your bucket list of must-see cities in Korea.
The Author
Lea is a French travel specialist currently based in Sunchang, Jeollabuk-do. She works with local government entities in order to develop tourism in the Jeolla provinces and actively promotes both Jeollanam-do and Jeollabuk-do on social media and TV. She has created two YouTube channels in order to share her passion for travel, while giving useful tips and advice. You can follow her on Facebook and YouTube under the name Leadventure. For more information about Jeolla travel, check out Lea’s other YouTube channel Jeolla Go.