Welcome to Joseon: You and I, Yangban 🗓️
The Korean Folk Village, located in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, invites you to its spring season festival, "Welcome to Joseon: You and I, Yangban". Running from March 29th to June 8th, 2025, the festival offers an immersive experience centered around a playful reinterpretation of the Joseon Dynasty’s social class system and the intriguing practice of genealogy forgery.
The festival’s unique premise allows visitors to become active participants in the narrative. Rather than simply observing, you’ll find yourself engaged in activities that directly reflect the themes of the event.
Festival Highlights
The festival features a variety of engaging activities, broadly categorized into three types:
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Visitor Participation Content:
- Identity Laundry: Details on this activity are scarce, but the name suggests a playful exploration of social mobility within the Joseon context.
- 겉다속족 (Geotdasokjok): While a direct translation isn’t available, the term hints at the complexities and potential discrepancies within family lineages and genealogies, a core theme of the festival.
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Experiential Content:
- Mother-of-pearl Hoppae (Identification Tag) Making: Craft your own personalized hoppae, a traditional identification tag used during the Joseon Dynasty.
- Giwa (Roof Tile) House Making: Construct a miniature house using traditional giwa roof tiles.
- Gat (Traditional Hat) Keychain Making: Create a small, wearable souvenir inspired by the iconic gat, a traditional Korean hat.
- Letter Writing: Experience the art of traditional Korean calligraphy.
- Yeopjeon (Traditional Coin) Exchange: Handle and learn about yeopjeon, the currency of the Joseon era.
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Photo Exhibition Zone:
These zones provide picturesque backdrops for capturing memories:- Wall Flower
- Under the Trumpet Creeper
- Café Sumuk (Ink Painting)
Essential Information
- 📍 Address: 90, Minsokchon-ro, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do (Boradong)
- 💰 Fee: Paid admission – specific pricing and discount information can be found on the Korean Folk Village website.
- 📞 Inquiries: 031-288-0000
- 🖥️ Homepage: https://www.koreanfolk.co.kr
- 🛏️ Accommodation: For those seeking lodging near the event, consider exploring options through Accommodation near the event.
The "Welcome to Joseon: You and I, Yangban" festival presents a carefully curated blend of historical context, interactive experiences, and opportunities for creative expression. It is an opportunity to engage with history in a tangible and memorable way.
Understanding the Joseon Dynasty
The Joseon Dynasty, spanning from 1392 to 1897, stands as one of the longest-lasting dynasties in Korean history. Founded by Yi Seong-gye, it established its capital in present-day Seoul. This era is notable for its profound impact on Korean culture, governance, and social structure. Confucianism was adopted as the state ideology, significantly shaping the educational, political, and social systems of the time. The period was marked by the development of a well-organized bureaucratic state, progress in science and technology, and a rich cultural output in arts and literature. The dynasty also maintained a strict class hierarchy, with the yangban, or scholarly aristocracy, holding significant influence. The enduring legacy of the Joseon Dynasty continues to influence modern Korean culture and identity.
