Bukchon Hanok Village is a historic neighbourhood in Seoul, which is known for its well-preserved hanoks, the traditional Korean houses. The area has a rich history dating back to the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897), and it has been carefully preserved to maintain its historical authenticity. It is not a tourist destination as it is a living community where individuals reside and maintain their traditional lifestyles, despite the fact that tourists are causing harm to the area. It is really a beautiful little village to respectfully walk through.
“The move comes in response to protests by Bukchon residents, who have been complaining about invasion of privacy, excessive noise, and littering due to the throngs of tourists – numbering an estimated 10,000 a day – visiting the area. A recent academic study even found that the tourism boom in Bukchon contributed to a 14% decrease in the number of residents in the village in the previous five years. Residents told the Chosun Ilbo newspaper in May that some tourists wandered into private homes without permission, or urinated in the narrow alleyways dividing the hanok because of a lack of public bathrooms.” (A picture-perfect Seoul neighborhood is fighting back against tourists. Isabella Steger. 2018)