Hyangdan [Korea Quality] / 향단 [한국관광 품질인증]

Hyangdan House (Treasure No. 412) is located in the famous village of Yangdong (Gyeongju City), which has been designated as National Folklore Cultural Heritage No. 189 and recognized as a Historic Village of Korea, and consequently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The head houses of the Gyeongju Son clan and the Yeogang Yi clan are situated in this traditional village, along with typical hanok houses of Joseon noblemen and the thatched houses of commoners.
Among the houses in the village, Hyangdang House stands out as it is located around Mulbong Hill. The house was built in 1540 by King Jungjong (r. 1506-1544) for the mother of Yi Eon-jeok (pen-name: Hoejae, 1491-1553). It originally measured 99-kan (a unit of measurement referring to the distance between two columns), but part of the house was destroyed during the Korean War (1950-53), leaving only 56-kan of the original structure.
Hyangdan House was built in close harmony with nature, so its structure is distinct from that of other hanok houses. As it was built on a slope, the x_heights of its various structures differ considerably. For instance, the daemungan (gate building) of the haengrangchae (servants’ quarters) was built by placing the foundation stones on the incline and then building the gate on top of them. In particular, there are no staircases leading up to the main gate at the front, but there is a side door adjacent to the gate through which one can enter the house. In addition, the sarangchae (men’s quarters) located behind the haengrangchae on the higher ground can be reached via the staircases. The other structures, such as the kitchen, anchae (women’s quarters), and geonneonbang (a room opposite the main living room) are located at different levels, protecting them from exposure to the outside. Therefore, thanks to the high position of the house, it is luminous and commands an excellent view. Furthermore, the anchae is situated in the middle of the house, which enables the occupants to reach the rest of the house easily. The anbang (main living room) connects to the daecheong (main floored room) toward the south.
Hyangdan House runs a variety of experience programs such as a woodblock printing program in which participants can write a letter using woodblock printing on hanji (traditional Korean paper handmade from mulberry tree); a traditional etiquette program including the wearing of hanbok (traditional Korean clothes); a tea ceremony with lotus tea; and a natural dyeing program in which participants learn how to use natural materials to dye fabric (bag, clothes, etc.). It is recommended to book the desired experience program when reserving a room at the guesthouse.
The house comprises four guestrooms in the anchae, three rooms in the additional building (busokchae), and two rooms in the haengrangchae, all of which are often fully booked.