Koreans transforming traditional hanok houses for 21st-century living

피디리포트: 한국 한옥의 현대화 & 재조명
Built from the time of the Chosun dynasty from 1392 to 1910, hanok are single-storey houses made of wood and stone, featuring tiled roofs, wooden pillars, paper windows, a small courtyard and floor heating. They started disappearing in the 1970s and 1980s... but they are making a comeback.
More hanoks are being refurbished for modern living.... a unique blend of tradition and modern day convenience our News feature tonight with Kim Jungsoo.
Korea's traditional houses, or hanok, have long been known for their grace and natural beauty, but modern-day Koreans often see them more as tourist attractions than as places to live.
The general perception is that hanok can't contain heat very well and are incompatible with the technological advances now synonymous with modern life.
"For a long time, traditional Korean hanok couldn't compete with Western-style buildings that were designed for economic efficiency. But perceptions of hanok began changing in the early 2000s, when more Koreans started to recognize the benefits of living in a nature-friendly environment. Until seven or eight years ago, people simply renovated existing hanok, but since then, there have been more attempts to build modernized hanok from the ground up."
Bae Yun-mok's house in Eunpyung-gu District's new hanok village is a good example.
On the outside, it looks no different from a traditional hanok - as if it has been frozen in time - but once inside, one can tell the house has been carefully designed to accomodate the owner's unique lifestyle and aesthetic tastes.
"My family and I lived in an apartment for more than 20 years, and I grew tired of feeling hemmed-in every time I came back from work. Having lived in this modernized hanok for more than a year, I can say that I made the right decision."
While modernized hanok offer the same kind of psychological comfort as traditional ones, some key differences are apparent at first glance.
For one thing, this hanok is two stories instead of one.
Experts say Joseon-era hanok rarely had more than one floor, as it was considered a sacrilege to live in a place higher than the king's palace.
Plus, there was little need to worry about space.
"In the Joseon Dynasty, the population was smaller, so there was less pressure to be frugal about land. But now, it's necessary to make the most out of the available space. What's more, there was no guarantee that heat could be transferred to the top floor, which further discouraged two-story buildings."
That doesn't mean that modernized hanok have completely discarded what made traditional hanok so special:
When it's warm out, Mr. Bae and his family -- his wife, his two sons and his mother -- simply go out to the madang, where they can commune with nature and talk to one another.
But families aren't the only beneficiaries.
"The modern version comes in a variety of sizes, too, like this hanok in central Seoul made for a single occupant."
Song Moon-sook, the owner of this "urban" hanok, which is about 30 square meters, says that she was first struck by the beauty of hanok houses when she visited Seochon hanok village on a rainy day some four years ago.
"I remember sitting in the madang of one hanok, and the sight and scent of nature had a particular impact on me. So I had the word hanok engraved in my memory when I started my journey to get a new home."
Song recalls that it was necessary to find an architect who could understand her desire for a house that replicated a hanok's traditional beauty, while also satisfying her need for modern conveniences.
"My client told me that she wanted the hanok to be designed around her comfort, and not the other way around. So it looks like an ordinary hanok on the outside, but inside it has a modern framework for heating and security purposes.
It's conversations like these, between residents and architects, that are ushering in a new generation of modern hanok equipped with state-of-the-art technology.
But perhaps more importantly, these new hanok are helping Koreans rediscover the meaning of the "good life" -- one that is carefully attuned to nature and history.
Kim Jung-soo, Arirang News.
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[@manzanaverde3174]

Those houses are absolute breath taking. It literally brought tears to my eyes. Please keep them alive. Greeting from Mexico 🇲🇽

[@solidorsharp3091]

Credit to Korean ingenuity and engineering. Architecture solutions - construction modernization and manufacturing modernization. This is long overdue.

[@Liztastaney7]

This is the exact same feeling I got. I hate apartments even though I'm an introvert, its utterly a prison.

[@woollimtothebones7909]

I want to have one here in Philippines ☺

[@byronmillanicia3384]

Really nice architecture!!! Traditional Asian buildings are something else!!!

[@Hmoobgai]

Omg my dream home

[@momofaleotv6506]

Love it!

[@sggarn29asianchoice55]

I would love to own one someday.😍😘💜

[@littlerobotfairy9710]

I would love to build and live in one of these here in America, I wonder how possible or easy that would be?

[@janesalt1142]

I want one!!!

[@erryfania1840]

Personal Taste Lee min hoo brougt me kepo hanok

[@tufluxed]

Please tell me they are building these buildings in japan as well?

[@theguitar7411]

J_sun Barry Why would Japan make traditional Korean houses?

[@tufluxed]

The Guitar Japanese have a version of a traditional townhouse. Sorry I wasn’t clear and don’t know the name of the Japanese version

[@imliteralyjust3405]

@@tufluxed there are many traditional houses in japan that are just as beautiful as hanoks. there is an Australian dude somewhere here on youtube who is currently renovating one and in his first video, he explains how he bought the house and how possibly to get one of your own, its very interesting.

[@arajoaina]

The difference between Korean and Japanese traditional house is the fact that Korean houses has much better heating system called ondol which is a method of heating the floors. Japanese traditional houses are much colder. So if you want to be warm and cozy during the winter you can’t beat Korean houses. On the other hand Japanese houses are cooler in the summers.

[@tufluxed]

arajoaina ah ok. Insulation is probs financially unviable so they buy a new build.

[@ramonesmaharjan]

This is called pyagoda style Araniko who is great architecture from Nepal .he spread to China and Japan abt 16 century..u can see all old houses and temples are built in Nepal.

[@intreoo]

This is hanok.. Hanok developed in the Joseon Dynasty..

[@zmelody2111]

a combination of Chinese and Japanese recent left ancient houses

[@BaptisteLee]

?!? Not at all

[@尾張藩士]

It is just a building that imitates the renovation of an old Japanese house. The garden also imitates a Japanese garden. No creativity. It is the limit of Korean ability.

[@kosukemiura1226]

@@尾張藩士 they both -copied- were influenced by traditional chinese architecture

[@intreoo]

@@尾張藩士 Hanok arose in the Joseon Dynasty. The Joseon Dynasty took no influences from Japan, only Ming China. Even then, Ming architecture did not have a lot of influence on Hanok. Take your nationalistic trash somewhere else hun :).

[@intreoo]

@@尾張藩士 It is obvious you are Japanese judging by your content. For your information, technically Japan would be the one that copied Korea by your logic. Yamato Japan sent envoys to the Korean kingdoms, particularly Baekje for information. Do not bring up any of the Baekje being a colony crap, Yamato Japan at the time was a mere confederation of tribes while Baekje was an organized kingdom. It would be believable to say Yamato Japan was a colony of Baekje. Why do you hate Korea getting in the spotlight so much? What do you nationalistic Japanese have with Korea? Japan for most of its history was below Korea, the Japanese court recruiting Koreans into their court, even the Japanese soldiers taking Joseon artifacts with them during the Imjin war. Why do you hate Korea so much? Leave the country alone. Japan would not even exist without Korea.

[@尾張藩士]

It is just a building that imitates the renovation of an old Japanese house. The garden also imitates a Japanese garden. No creativity. It is the limit of Korean ability.

[@catsstreetkr]

Most japanes houses are imitating korean traditional houses.

[@尾張藩士]

@へろ What is your academic basis? I haven't heard of your imagination

[@尾張藩士]

@@하늘바라기-i2e In the Japanese government, Korea is influenced by "Japanese houses (both traditional and modern)" constructed by Japanese immigrants. Korean architecture researchers agree. The Hanok, which was built in Jeonju Hanok Village, is influenced by the modern Japanese houses of Japanese wealthy people. How about studying the architecture of your own country? 日本統治化の朝鮮では、日本人移住者が建設した「日本家屋(伝統的・近代的の両方)」の影響を受けていますよ。 韓国の建築研究家も同じ意見です。 全州韓屋村に建設された「韓屋」は、日本人資産家の近代日本家屋の影響を受けています。 ご自分の国の建築を勉強してはいかがでしょうか？ 일제 화의 조선에서는 일본인 이민자가 건설 한 '일본 가옥 (전통 · 현대 모두) "의 영향을 받고 있어요. 한국의 건축 연구가도 같은 의견입니다. 전주 한옥 마을에 건설 된 '한옥'은 일본인 자산가 현대 일본 가옥의 영향을 받고 있습니다. 자신의 나라의 건축을 공부하고는 어떻습니까?

[@尾張藩士]

@@catsstreetkr In the Japanese government, Korea is influenced by "Japanese houses (both traditional and modern)" constructed by Japanese immigrants. Korean architecture researchers agree. The Hanok, which was built in Jeonju Hanok Village, is influenced by the modern Japanese houses of Japanese wealthy people. How about studying the architecture of your own country? 日本統治化の朝鮮では、日本人移住者が建設した「日本家屋(伝統的・近代的の両方)」の影響を受けていますよ。 韓国の建築研究家も同じ意見です。 全州韓屋村に建設された「韓屋」は、日本人資産家の近代日本家屋の影響を受けています。 ご自分の国の建築を勉強してはいかがでしょうか？ 일제 화의 조선에서는 일본인 이민자가 건설 한 '일본 가옥 (전통 · 현대 모두) "의 영향을 받고 있어요. 한국의 건축 연구가도 같은 의견입니다. 전주 한옥 마을에 건설 된 '한옥'은 일본인 자산가 현대 일본 가옥의 영향을 받고 있습니다. 자신의 나라의 건축을 공부하고는 어떻습니까?

[@catsstreetkr]

@@尾張藩士 you are completely wrong. Hanok we had already built in kyoung ju city.is the Capital of Sila dynasty. We have thousands hanok buildings there which were built thousands year ago. You have to study again as japanes government teaches history by munipulating. What a shamful history your king hiro hit bend his nees to the world. apologized invading asian countries like a gangster after bombed by usa. Now you are munipulating just like your country. What you learn.who you are. Liar.