As you walk down the path of the entrance into Hahoe Village, you can’t help but feel like you’re stepping back in time. Situated inside a bend of the Nakdong River, this traditional village has been the home of the Pungsan Ryu clan since the 1500s. About a half hour bus ride outside of Andong, this UNESCO World Heritage Site consists of traditional houses, clay walls, wooden porches, and thatched roofs. What’s so amazing is that this is not a recreated folk village but is rather a real traditional Joseon era village with families still living there.
In addition to the village’s natural charm, Hahoe Village is also home to Andong’s famous Hahoe Mask Dance. The mask dance is actually a play that depicts the hierarchical nature of traditional Confucian society during the Joseon dynasty. While performances can be seen on weekends from March to November, it is the Andong International Mask Dance Festival in the fall that really garners the most attention. If you find yourself able to visit the village, make sure that you take a ferry across the river to Buyongdae Cliff for a breathtaking view of the entire village.
While in Andong, be sure to sample a bowl of dongdongju, rice wine with ginseng, and sit down with family or friends to share a plate of Andong jjimdak, a local specialty, which consist of spicy steamed chicken with vegetables and noodles. Other sites in Andong include Byeongsan Seowon and Dosan Seowon Confucian Academies and Bongjeongsa Temple. Located in the cradle for Joseon era Confucianism in Korea, Dosan Seowon Confucian Academy was founded in 1574 and is one of Korea’s oldest and most famous Confucian academies. For more information, visit: http://www.andong.go.kr.
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