Naganeupseong Folk Culture Festival

Naganeupseong Fortress During the Joseon Period, Naganeupseong Fortress was the greatest downtown of Nagan-eup. It used to be earthen ramparts, but after General Im Gyeong-eop was appointed as the governor during the mid-Joseon Dynasty, it was reconstructed into a stone fortress. Inside the fortress, whose circumference is about 1.4km, there is a village with impressive thatched roofs and residents still live here even today. Some of them had moved outside the walls over the course of the repairs that went on in the fortress, but many residents who chose to stay within the walls currently make a living through pensions, folk handicraft, and restaurants. This is why the fortress is able to live on even to this date instead of having become a manmade folk village. No matter which of the four gates in the north, south, east and west you come in from, we recommend you to walk up the fortress wall to enjoy the view of the village first. There are no fences on the walls so, as you carefully walk around, you will be able to see a fortress filled with thatched roofs and its surroundings featuring green fields and mountains. The location that offers the best view is the hill between the west gate and south gate. Most of the residents’ houses are located on the south and east gates of the fortress while the area encompassing the west and north gates have the governors’ residence, Dongheon, and the drama set of Daejanggeum. In particular, the monument house of General Im Gyeong-eop standing in front of the governors’ residence is still regarded as a guardian saint of the village, and many old trees that can be found throughout help us estimate the age of the fortress. It is said that Admiral Yi Sun-sin once visited Naganeupseong during the Japanese invasion of 1592 and, behind the governors’ residence, there is a Muku tree known to have been planted by the admiral himself. Also, “Paljinmi,” a meal cooked by using 8 ingredients cultivated in Nagan at the time, was served to the admiral, according to records. “Paljinmi” is served at a restaurant inside the fortress so enjoy the food while imaging yourself as a citizen living in a Joseon village. If you walk for just 5 minutes from the south gate, you will get to the “Ppurigipeunnamu Museum,” which houses the collection of relics of the late Han Chang-gi, the publisher of 〈Ppurigipeunnamu,〉 a magazine that promulgates Korean elements and traditions. It is a museum where you can see the efforts of Mr. Han who aimed at protecting our roots, which had been regarded as old and crude and mostly neglected due to urbanization, while creating a new culture within. After taking a look around a modern museum, you can also check out the hanok of the late Baekgyeong Kim Mu-gyu located at the entrance. It was built in 1922 and relocated here in 2006. Baekgyeong was the holder of Gurye Hyangje Jungpungryu, the Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 83. It possesses the form of a typical Yangban house, which features a sarangchae and anchae divided by a wall. You can check out the appearance of a southern-style hanok yourself, while taking your shoes off to enter the building of course, so make sure to stop by.

The breath of Han Chang-gi as resilient as a tree against the wind The Deep-rooted Tree Museum There once lived a person who tried to revive everything rooted on this land with his sincere affection and wishes alone. This man was the late Han Chang-gi, the publisher of the first Hangeul-only, horizontal-writing magazines titled Deep Rooted Tree and Deep Spring Water The Deep-rooted Tree Museum in Suncheon exhibits and preserves 6,500 artifacts that the late Han Chang-gi collected and preserved throughout his life. Born in Beolgyo-eup in 1936, Han was one of the best salesmen in the industry at the time, who served as the CEO of Britannica Korea with his fluent English and outstanding sales skills. Not only that, he also took great interest in tradition and culture. “If it is for a meaningful cause, you should know how to burn money like fallen leaves,” said Han who spent a good amount of his wealth in collecting relics and cultural properties. The Deep-rooted Tree Museum exhibits earthenware, pottery, Buddhist tools, folk crafts, household items, bowls, ancient books, and costumes from the Bronze Age to post-Liberation. Among them, Kookjang Banchado of Jeongsun Wanghu, Woodblocks of Wolwangjeon Shrine, Eunje Yugaebyeong (silver bottle with lid), and Bule and White Porcelain Pencil Case are also important cultural properties. If you come out of the museum, a gorgeous old house welcomes you. It is Suodang, the old house of Baekgyeong Kim Moo-gyu that was built in the 1920s, and it is said that it was originally built in Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do. It is also the place where Baekgyeong's geomungo performance was filmed in the movie, Seopyeonje. Relics, collected all by the legwork by Han Chang-gi who has lived his entire life as a guardian of the Korean language, writing, and culture were once treated contemptuously but are now cultural properties of great value, raising our pride in traditional culture.

A present-day village living in the appearance of Joseon Dynasty Naganeupseong Fortress There is a small yet charming village on the flat basin surrounded by a low mountain. By simply looking at the yellow thatched houses clustered together, you can feel the neighbors’ love for one another on every street and alley. And yet, this is not a re-enactment of a folk village or a drama set; it is a modern town that is lived in, with only the appearances referring to times of of the past. Nagan, which was the home of people since the days of Mahan, used to be the center of Nagan-gun that existed until 1908. In 1397, a Jeoljesa (commanding officer) from Nagan named Gim Bin-gil built an earthen fortification, and in 1424, it was reinforced as a stone fortress to become large and vast as it is today. Naganeupseong Fortress was destroyed by Japanese raiders during the Second Japanese Invasion of Korea (1597) but was later restored by Im Gyeong-eop who was the newly appointed governor of Nagan-gun. The fortress was designated a historic site in 1983 and has been well-maintained ever since. Naganeupseong Fortress is a so-called planned regional city of the Joseon Dynasty. Small streets are connected to a big road in the middle, and traffic to and from the outskirts is managed in an efficient manner. It is one of the most perfectly preserved fortresses from the Joseon Dynasty and possesses a high folkloristic value as it still retains the traditional looks of Joseon, including over 200 thatched houses, Nangmillu Pavilion, Magistrate's Office, an inn, and a huge well. The best way to enjoy the fortress is to walk on the trail along the walls. In particular, one of the best views of the fortress can be caught from the stone staircase coming down from West Gate past South Gate. The long path leading up to South Gate and other elements that complete the fortress’ scenery—such as thatched houses and dirt roads—are warm and vintage as that of the vast bosom of Namdo.

Traveling the past and present together Have you ever heard of the folk museum where people actually reside? The village is overall well preserved, becoming a museum itself and allowing visitors to observe houses and lifestyles that have all been passed down from the past. Among all the other walled towns, Naganeupseong preserves the lifestyle during the early days of the Joseon Dynasty far best. It was first constructed in the form of earthen fortifications to prevent the invasion from the Japanese raiders and later rebuilt into the stone fortress today. You can notice many thoughtful considerations for persons with disabilities at the Naganeupseong Walled Town. The barrier-free pedestrian road is paved from the parking lot to the East Gate through a ticket booth and Tourist Information Center. The height of a ticket booth is lowered and a ramp is installed to allow access for wheelchair users. What's more, travel brochures and rental service of electric wheelchairs are available at the Tourist Information Center. Those who travel in an electric wheelchair can charge it for free at both the East and West Gate. The braille and voice-type tourist information board is located next to the Information Center as well. For further assistance, you can request the Tourist Information Center and get a voice guide and sign language video. Shall we go inside to look around the Naganeupseong Walled Town? Once you get inside using the East Gate, you would be able to see that the main road divides the place into two sections: Management Office and Residential Area. At the Management Office area, there are Magistrate's office, Living Quarters, and Nangmillu Pavilion. Resource Center, located on the left of the Magistrate's office, tells the history of the Naganeupseong Walled Town with various displays. As most office buildings have gentle ramps, even wheelchair users can easily look around. If you get a little hungry during the tour, you can visit Nanjeon. With a tavern-like interior design from the Joseon Dynasty, it sells pajeon (green onion pancake), gukbap (rice soup), and many other Korean foods. There are also tables specially designed for wheelchair users. Next to Nanjeon, there is a place where you can rent a wide range of Hanbok, or Korean traditional clothing, from traditional ones to modernized ones. Walking and looking around the town in a Hanbok will present you with a unique experience. In the 600-year-old residential area, there are still 300 Korean traditional thatched-roof houses and 100 of them are inhabited by actual residents. You may create unforgettable memories by visiting filming sites for Korean TV series such as Dae Jang Geum and Love in the Moonlight as well as by traditional musical instrument-making experience and handicraft experience using straw and plants.

Travel back to a Joseon Dynasty village During the Joseon Dynasty, Naganeupseong Walled Town was the vibrant center of the Nagan area. Initially a mud fortress, it was transformed into a stone fortress in the mid-Joseon period by General Im Gyeong-eop, who was appointed as the governor. Inside its 1.4 km stone walls, you'll find a charming village with thatched-roof houses that continues to thrive today. This village is a rare and living example of a historical site. While some residents relocated outside the walls during renovations, many chose to stay and still run guesthouses, craft shops, and restaurants. This allows the village to remain a lively, authentic fortress, rather than a simple folk village. No matter which of the four gates you enter, starting your visit by strolling along the fortress walls is highly recommended. Be cautious as there are no railings, but as you stroll, you can take in the view of the village filled with thatched roofs and the green fields and mountains surrounding the fortress. For the best scenery, head to the hill located between Seomun (West Gate) and Nammun (South Gate). The homes where villagers live are mostly located near Nammun (South Gate) and Dongmun (East Gate). In contrast, the areas around Seomun (West Gate) and Bukmun (North Gate) feature historic sites such as the Gyeoksa (guesthouse), Dongheon (administrative office), and the filming location for the Korean drama Dae Jang Geum. Among these, the Stele Pavilion dedicated to General Im Gyeong-eop, situated in front of the Gyeoksa (guesthouse), is honored as a protector of the village. Throughout the fortress, you’ll also find ancient trees that offer a window into its rich history and cultural heritage. Naganeupseong Walled Town is historically significant, having been visited by Admiral Yi Sun-sin during the Japanese invasion. Behind the Gyeoksa (guesthouse) there is a tree believed to have been planted by the Admiral. During that time, 'Paljinmi,' a dish made with eight locally grown ingredients, was served. You can still enjoy this traditional dish at local restaurants inside the fortress. Taste history with every bite and feel as if you've stepped into a village from the Joseon Dynasty! Just a five-minute walk from Nammun (South Gate) is the Deep Rooted Tree Museum, dedicated to Han Chang-gi, the founder of a magazine that promoted the preservation of Korean traditions. The museum displays his collection of artifacts, reflecting his efforts to preserve and revitalize aspects of Korean culture that had been overlooked and undervalued due to urbanization. After visiting the modern museum, you can explore the traditional hanok of the respected Kim Mu-gyu, also known as Baek Gyeong, which was moved here in 2006. Built in 1922, this home gives you a glimpse into a typical southern-style Korean house. Baek Gyeong was a holder of the Important Intangible Cultural Heritage, specifically the Gurye Hyangje Julpungnyu, a traditional performing art. The house features a clear distinction between the sarangchae (men’s quarters) and anchae (women’s quarters). Don’t forget to remove your shoes before stepping inside, so you can fully enjoy the authentic atmosphere of this beautiful hanok.