A Visitor's Guide to Minsokchon (The Traditional Korean Folk Village)

Minsokchon is the most popular Folk Village in Korea, mainly due to its' proximity to Seoul - an area most tourists frequent. Although Minsokchon is located a little ways to the South of Seoul near Suwon, it's easy to get to and it's the perfect full day experience. Here, you can see what life was like for locals, both rich and poor, during the Joseon Dynasty. They even have live performances and plenty of activities you can participate in!

My Essential Korea Travel Resources :
​There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. After traveling to South Korea over a dozen times, these are my favorite websites and resources to help plan an incredible trip.

For flights, I recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to South Korea.

Car rentals, although not common in Korea, are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to have a copy of your international driver's permit with you!

I always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform and tend to focus on the Asia-Pacific region.

To keep cell phone service, I always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, Klook specializes on tours in Asia, otherwise Viator also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use when visiting a new country.

Lastly, my essential packing list when traveling.

Getting to the Folk Village & What to Expect

Minsokchon is located to the South of Seoul, and takes about one hour (depending on traffic) to get there from downtown Seoul. Personally, I think the easiest way to get there is by bus - which drops you off right across the street from the Folk Village's Parking Lot. This bus station is called the "Korean Folk Village/Bora Hyosung/Samjung Apartment" stop, and the following buses stop here : 10-5, 88, 88-1, 4101, 5001-1, 30, 32, 551-2B, 54. For up to date information on how to get to Minsokchon, check their website here.

Tickets cost 32,000 Won per adult, 26,000 Won per child, and 22,000 Won for Senior Citizens. Hours for Minsokchon depend on the season - they always open at 10:00am and close either at 6:00pm, 6:30pm, or 7:00pm - and also on any special events or holidays. If you have some things you'd like to put away while you explore, Minsokchon also has lockers available for guests (located directly to the right after you enter). Below, I've listed my 11 favorite things to do at Minsokchon to make the most of your trip! 

​My Favorite Tours in Seoul :
- Full Day DMZ Tour from Seoul
- Lotte World Tower at Seoul Sky

Best Things to Do at Minsokchon

1. Night Experiences
There are a handful of attractions that can only be experienced at Minsokchon after nightfall (they're typically open until 6:00pm - 7:00pm depending on the season). One of course, is the Jigokcheon River, which has a giant moon in the center that lights up and the Wooden Bridge that is lined with traditional lanterns - very cutesy. In addition to the beautiful photo zones, they also have special traditional performances, LED performances, and shadow art performances at night!

2. Minsokchon Horror Experience
​This terrifying experience shares the story of the shaman Lee Hwa - including village ghosts! To be honest I wasn't quite up for it, but I've heard it's one of the scariest and best ghost experiences found in Seoul. Located in the Amusement Village, all children must be accompanied by an adult.

3. Traditional Holiday Experiences
During national Korean Holidays, Minsokchon has special activities and experiences for guests to partake in! If you visit during these holidays, you'll find unique experiences and foods that aren't typically available to guests during "normal" visits. Dates can change annually depending on holidays based on the lunar calendar, but these include :

• Korean New Year's Day - a special day to bring in the Korean New Year where locals share rice cakes & rice cake soup (Jan. 29, 2025)
• Jeongwol Daeboreum - a Full Moon Festival celebrating the first full moon of the year, Minsokchon celebrates by building a triangular bonfire - also called the "Moon House" - for burning (Feb. 25, 2025)
• Double Third Festival - a festival originally from China, that is celebrated to ward off evil spirits, at Minsokchon they have special flower pancakes (Mar. 31, 2025)
• Buddha's Birthday - throughout Korea, the coming of Buddha is celebrated in a large way - primarily through lantern parades and lantern making crafts - at Minsokchon they encourage guests to make special lanterns as well (May 5, 2025)
• Dano - during this festival, locals celebrate the coming of warm weather, planting of the yearly crop, and the coming summer season, during this festival locals wash their hair in boiled water with iris to ward off evil spirits (May 31, 2025)
• Chuseok - also dubbed the Korean Thanksgiving, Chuseok is celebrating the year's harvest - and locals tend to gather with large meals which also includes gathering to make Songpyeon (you can even experience this right at Minsokchon!) (Oct. 5-7, 2025)
• Dongji - also considered the Winter Solstice festival, locals typically eat red bean soup with friends and family, a food also served at Minsokchon on this day (Dec. 21, 2025 - Jan. 4, 2026)

4. Yippee! Yippee! Parade
This parade route follows the path circling the Market Village, and showcases traditional clothing, dance, and music! Depending on when you're visiting it can get quite crowded, so I recommend finding a seat about 10-15 minutes beforehand so you can get a good view. This is one of the best ways to see the traditional dance and "folk people" up close!

5. Traditional Yeot Candy
​If you're lucky, you'll run into the traditional Candyman! He'll be selling Yeot (pronounced "YUT") - a very sticky rice taffy that is sweet and made from steamed rice, corn and sweet potatoes. Surprisingly it's quite delicious, and when we met him he was super friendly too! Just be warned, they're quite messy and VERY sticky - so if he asks if you want it cut make sure to say yes!

6. Archery, Horseback Riding, Etc.
​In addition to special events during Korean holidays, Minsokchon also has traditional activities for visitors to try. During my visit I tried archery (a little more crooked than I was used to haha) but they also have horseback riding, traditional dyeing, and a few others! These types of activities are an extra cost, but usually fairly cheap.

7. Traditional Tea House
​Tucked away on the other side of the river, you'll find Minsokchon's Traditional Tea House - which was adorable. They have floor seating - common in hanok buildings - and delicious tea sets. You can choose which type of tea you'd like and also what kind of dessert! When I visited there was no one else there and a very peaceful stop compared to the rest of Minsokchon!

8. Korean Folk Museum
​Nearby the Tea House, you'll also find the Korean Folk Museum. Here, you can walk through at your own pace to see life for local Korean's during the late Joseon Dynasty. The museum showcases daily activities, chores, and customs for Korean's during all 4 seasons.

9. Eat Your Way Through the Market Place
​The Market Place at Minsokchon is the perfect place to grab lunch, especially if you're at the village exploring all day. Here you can find traditional dishes like seafood and veggie pancakes, bibimbap, jajangmyeon, and nangmyeon! There's large tables and lots of shade, making it the perfect spot to rest your feet.

10. Enjoy the Amusement Village
​The Amusement Village is on the other side of the river inside Minsokchon, however if you want to start your day with some thrill you can head straight over the bridge to the right after entering Minsokchon. In the Amusement Village you can find all sorts of rides for the whole family - the Viking, bumper cars, and even some roller coasters! This is also where the scary Minsokchon Horror Experience is located.

11. Enjoy the Folk Village!
​Even though there's a ton to do at Minsokchon, one of the best things to do of course is exploring the Folk Village! Taking up a majority of the Minsokchon grounds, you can self-guide yourself through different buildings during the Joseon Dynasty - like the pottery shop, landowner's houses, government offices, and even see what a nobleman's mansion would have looked like in the day. Hidden throughout these grounds you'll find all the live experiences and hands on activities I mentioned above!

Watch my Minsokchon Experience here!

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