The folk street in Kaesong is located at the foot of Mt Janam in Pugan-dong of Kaesong City.
Lining the street are traditional dwelling houses with antique-looking Korean roofing tiles and eaves. They bring into bolder relief the historical scenery of Kaesong which was the capital of Koryo (918-1392).
In general, a house is comprised of a living room, an opposite room, a detached room and several other floor-heated rooms, a wooden-floored lounge, a kitchen, a storehouse for keeping kitchen utensils, and a gateway. According to its scale, it is possible to increase the number of rooms and has sheds for keeping farm implements and other household goods and stables.
In those days, aristocrats and bureaucrats and other wealthy classes divided rooms in their houses separately for man and woman, the old and the young, owner and servant, according to the Confucian ideas.
A pond and flower bed were made in the courtyard so as to create a beautiful garden with trees of ornamental value.
The house in the folk street had such features that its main building was arranged comparatively better than the detached building and that the interior and exterior of ㅁ-shaped house were separated completely so that no one could look into it from outside.
This was related to the fact that the locals had an aversion to reveal their housekeeping to others.
What was conspicuous in the house in the folk street was the decoration of soy-jar terrace, which was said to be a yardstick for appraising the family’s tradition.
A two to three-tiered stone terrace was built inside the fence by the kitchen, and large jars were arranged at the back, small ones in the middle and smaller ones at the front, in the order of their sizes and colours. Such customs are being carried forward still today.
At present, thousands of residents are living in hundreds of houses in the folk street.
There is a folk hotel for tourists to Kaesong, where they can personally see the architectural styles of traditional houses and experience the living customs of the Korean people.
The folk street in Kaesong has been designated as a conservation object of the country according to the State policy on the conservation of national heritage since 1957.
The street is one of typical old city street examples forming a large house architectural group in a vast area. It is also a “living historical site” where Koreans have lived for over 1 100 years from the period of Koryo and which is to be handed down through generations.
Herein lies its cultural value as a precious folk traditional heritage of the Korean nation.
Ri Jin Gyong, researcher at the section for study of world heritage of the Korea National Heritage Preservation Agency
More From Naenara (En)
Kang Jin Song, international affairs analyst of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, issued the following article, titled, “
April 26, 2024
Kang Jin Song, international affairs analyst of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, issued the following article, titled, “
Officials and members of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea held a pledge-making meeting at the Kuksabong Revolutionary
April 26, 2024
Officials and members of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea held a pledge-making meeting at the Kuksabong Revolutionary
Senior Party and government officials visited the Korean Revolution Museum on April 24 on the occasion of the 92nd founding
April 26, 2024
Senior Party and government officials visited the Korean Revolution Museum on April 24 on the occasion of the 92nd founding
Kim Jong Im, teacher at the Kaeson Kindergarten in Moranbong District affiliated to Pyongyang Teachers Training College, has been
April 26, 2024
Kim Jong Im, teacher at the Kaeson Kindergarten in Moranbong District affiliated to Pyongyang Teachers Training College, has been
April 26 is World Intellectual Property Day. WIPO set the theme for this year as “IP and the Sustainable Development Goals:
April 26, 2024
April 26 is World Intellectual Property Day. WIPO set the theme for this year as “IP and the Sustainable Development Goals:
Under the wise leadership of the Workers’ Party of Korea which set the housing construction, favoured most by the people, as the
April 26, 2024
Under the wise leadership of the Workers’ Party of Korea which set the housing construction, favoured most by the people, as the
The 2024 Spring National Footwear Exhibition has opened. Held on the theme of “Convenience, aesthetic sense and durability of
April 25, 2024
The 2024 Spring National Footwear Exhibition has opened. Held on the theme of “Convenience, aesthetic sense and durability of
Workers and members of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea held an oath-taking meeting at the Central Hall of Workers
April 25, 2024
Workers and members of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea held an oath-taking meeting at the Central Hall of Workers
The second workshop of officials in the information sector of the Workers’ Party of Korea took place at the People’s Palace of
April 25, 2024
The second workshop of officials in the information sector of the Workers’ Party of Korea took place at the People’s Palace of
New houses have appeared at the Sinsaeng Farm in Chongdan County, South Hwanghae Province, as modern cultural villages are being
April 25, 2024
New houses have appeared at the Sinsaeng Farm in Chongdan County, South Hwanghae Province, as modern cultural villages are being
Overseas Koreans took part in the 33rd April Spring Friendship Art Festival, a festival singing in praise of great men to
April 25, 2024
Overseas Koreans took part in the 33rd April Spring Friendship Art Festival, a festival singing in praise of great men to
A delegation of the Ministry of External Economic Relations of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea led by Minister Yun
April 25, 2024
A delegation of the Ministry of External Economic Relations of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea led by Minister Yun
The participants in the second workshop of officials in the information sector of the Workers’ Party of Korea conducted
April 25, 2024
The participants in the second workshop of officials in the information sector of the Workers’ Party of Korea conducted
The Anti-Japanese People’s Guerrilla Army (AJPGA) was founded on April 25, 1932. Later, it was reorganized into the Korean
April 25, 2024
The Anti-Japanese People’s Guerrilla Army (AJPGA) was founded on April 25, 1932. Later, it was reorganized into the Korean
Kwon Jong Rim, Merited Scientist, PhD and associate professor, has a career of over six decades at the Central Geological
April 25, 2024
Kwon Jong Rim, Merited Scientist, PhD and associate professor, has a career of over six decades at the Central Geological
Rural housing construction is gaining momentum in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea which has adopted the revitalization
April 25, 2024
Rural housing construction is gaining momentum in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea which has adopted the revitalization
Im Chon Il, vice minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in charge of Russian affairs, released
April 24, 2024
Im Chon Il, vice minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in charge of Russian affairs, released
Kim Yo Jong, deputy department director of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, issued the following press
April 24, 2024
Kim Yo Jong, deputy department director of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, issued the following press
The chief of the Foreign News Section of the Department of Press and Information of the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic
April 24, 2024
The chief of the Foreign News Section of the Department of Press and Information of the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic
Kim Chaek University of Technology boasts many researchers who have distinguished themselves in the efforts to help boost the
April 24, 2024
Kim Chaek University of Technology boasts many researchers who have distinguished themselves in the efforts to help boost the
More Articles