Andong , a town of cultural heritage [ 2005 - 05 - 04 ] You may forget the passage of time in Andong , North Gyeongsang Province . The feeling you will get while standing in Andong is in stark contrast to the feeling you would have in Gyeongju , another historic city . In Andong , you will feel as if the spiritual beauty of the town had been suddenly frozen in time . The town ` s elegant beauty is maintained in time - honored old houses , buildings , and stately seowon ' s ( seowon is a medieval school ) . All such cultural legacies are well preserved by the residents in Andong , who are adamant about holding on to the things of the past . It appears as if they are trying to prove with all their heart and soul the truth that " the present exists based on the past . " Hahoe Village full of scholarly spirit Some 300 old houses are clustered elegantly in various parts of Andong , known to be a town full of scholarly spirit . It would be somewhat inconvenient for tourists , who are used to Western - style cottages , to stay in such houses , but these houses rate high in popularity for those who want to have a special experience . The residents there still make fire in the kitchen with firewood from oak trees . You may soon fall asleep under a flickering kerosene lamp if you lie down on the warm ondol " floor near the fireplace . Faint moonlight comes through the snow - white window paper . The night breeze is refreshing as it carries the smell of spring . Look up into the sky from the garden and you will see a myriad of stars shining brightly in the sky . The bluish moonlight silently shines on the centuries - old pine pillars , smartly - shaped eaves , and glassy main floor of the house . It is heartwarming even to think of a night ' s stay at a traditional house in Hahoe Village in Andong . You can stay with the residents in the village who still make fire with firewood instead of LPG gas , live in rooms made with mud instead of cement , listen to the songs of insects at night instead of watching television dramas or commercials , and enjoy the sight of a meandering river beyond the window instead of a huge apartment building . All of this is a gift that will be presented to you if you choose to stay at a traditional house here . Who would refuse to receive this simple gift ? Before coming to Korea , British Queen Elizabeth II said , " I would like to see the things in Korea that are the most typically Korean . " on a visit to Korea on her 73 rd birthday , the British queen was invited to Hahoe Village in Andong where she could get a taste of Korean beauty and elegance . It is pleasant to get a view of the entire village , around which the Nakdong River flows while making a slow S turn . In addition , there are many old stately tile - roofed mansions and thatched - roofed houses still standing in their original forms in the village . You had better hike to Buyongdae Hill to enjoy a full view of the village . You will see several stately old mansions still standing in the village such as " Yangjindang , " the head house of Pungsan " Ryu " family ; " Chunghyodang , " the head house of Seoae Ryu Seong - ryong ( 1542 - 1607 , the prime minister during the Hideyoshi Invasion , 1592 - 1598 ) ; the house owned by the family of famous actor Ryu Si - won ; and " Bukchondaek . " The houses where Hahoe Village residents actually live are not open to the public . Tourists can stay at one of about 30 designated houses in the village . They can make fire in the kitchen and prepare local Andong dishes shoulder to shoulder with residents . They can also have the opportunity to listen to various kinds of stories from the owners of the homestay houses . During the Joseon Dynasty , there was a saying that went , " Half of Joseon ' s talented people come from the Gyeongsang provincial region , and half of those talented people in Gyeongsang come from Andong . " As such , Andong used to be a place of studies and scholars . As if to prove this tradition , there are more than 50 seowon ' s still standing here and there in Andong . Accordingly , you had better focus your schedule of travel to Andong to just a few seowon ' s , such as Dosan Seowon and Byongsan Seowon . Andong is counted as a top tourist attraction in the North Gyeongsang provincial area because three of the unique cultures of the Shilla , Goryo , and Joseon dynasties blossomed in this region , in addition to the existence of Confucian cultural properties including the Dosan and Byongsan seowon ' s . Dosan Seowon , the center of Confucian Culture Among other things , Dosan Seowon presents a handsome facade . Not only is the seowon a valuable cultural property , but the road to the seowon is a beautiful attraction in and of itself . Dosan Seowon is located some 28 kilometers to the north of National Road No . 35 that leads from Andong City Hall . The path beyond the ticket office to the seowon is quiet . It is comfortable to walk on this path , as it is made of dirt and not pavement . But this path is not the same one that Toegye Yi Hwang ( 1501 - 1570 ) , the founder of Dosan Seowon , and his students used to walk on . The old path was submerged in 1974 when the Andong Dam was built , so a new path was blazed to the west of the seowon . The seowon consists of " Dosan Seodang ( lecture hall ) , " which Toegye built and where he taught his students , " Nongun Jeongsa , " a dormitory for the students , and " Jeongyodang , " where a tablet reading " Dosan Seowon " -- a gift from the king -- still hangs . The first attraction that welcomes you in the seowon is a tree with the latin name " Sciadopitys verticillata . " Standing beneath this tree is a stone monument whose inscription states that then President Park Chung - hee transplanted the tree , which he had cared for very much , from the presidential Blue House garden " in order to further glorify the Dosan Seowon compound " on December 8 , 1972 . Dosan Seodang is composed of three parts -- a floor , a large room , and a kitchen . As Toegye was not rich , it took him four years to complete the construction of this building . The seodang appears simple as it is not adorned . The garden is so small that it is hard to call it as such . Toegye dug a small pond named " Jeongudang " in the east , where he raised lotus flowers , and planted apricot trees in the west in the seowon compound . Toegye used to call apricots , bamboos , chrysanthemums , and pine trees his " friends , " among which he loved apricot trees the most . A small signboard reading " Dosan Seowon , " whose calligraphy Toegye wrote himself , is still hanging on one of the pillars at the end of the floor . If you look carefully at the floor , you will find an extension made with wooden planks . There is an episode about this extension . One of Toegye ` s students , Jeonggu , recommended that Toegye extend the building to accommodate more students who were continuously arriving . But as his recommendation was turned down , Jeonggu and his fellow students hastily attached wooden planks to the floor while their teacher was out . So this part of the floor is not very elegantly constructed . But we can imagine how enthusiastic the students were about their studies at that time . There are many attractions near the Dosan Seowon . The Lee Yuk - sa Literary Hall is located within a 10 - minute drive from the Toegye residence . The hall opened on July 31 , 2004 , on the centennial of the poet ' s birth . Put on display in the hall are the poet ' s manuscripts , letters he wrote to the poet Shin Suk - cho and others , poems dedicated to his memory , and a bronze statue of Toegye . Situated about 2 kilometers to the south of the Dosan Seowon is the " Gyeongsangbuk - Do Forest Science Museum , " which displays various exhibits about forests , such as the characteristics and usage of wood and the value of forests . Its Specimens Gallery features stuffed specimens of tigers , eagles , insects and reptiles . The 4 - D Video Room presents a four - dimensional film entitled " The Adventures on a Green Planet , " which reminds us of the importance of the natural environment . Other attractions are the Geuknakjeon building ( National Treasure No . 15 ) at Bongjeong Temple , which British Queen Elizabeth II praised as " looking like [ a building made from ] one single huge wood piece , " a 7 - story brick pagoda in Sinse - dong which was made during the Shilla kingdom , and a stone Buddha statue which was built in a unique style and stands in Icheon - dong , Andong . But such assets are not enough yet to call Andong a town of magnificent culture . Traditional customs and a generous spirit have been preserved better in Andong than in any other region . The prevalent atmosphere is one of valuing manners , respecting senior members of society , and encouraging studies . All this is proof that Andong is worthy of being called " a town of respectful people and scholarly enthusiasm . " Hard historical facts and ruins are not the only thing that you can find in Andong . You can spend romantic moments at the Andong Dam , standing in the cool breeze and looking down at the clean water colored by the setting sun , or relieve all your fatigue in a spa at the Dosan springs . Or you may want to spend a night at an old house feeling as if you were playing a role in a historical drama . All this is possible in Andong . The most heartwarming feature of Andong is that you will receive a warm welcome everywhere in this town as if you had arrived in your own hometown . Everyone in the homestay houses and restaurants in Hahoe Village and on the streets is kind and modest . You will feel at home in Andong as if you were staying at your own grandmother ' s house , rather than finding the people tough or strict as if only caring about preserving their cultural heritage . The friendliness of residents makes your trip to Andong all the more enjoyable and memorable . If you want any meaningful travel in spring , go on a trip to Andong . You will be welcomed by the residents of old houses adorned with natural beauty and elegance , and by the crisp clean air of the lovely town . By car 1 ) From Seoul ( about four hours ) Gyeongbu ( Seoul - Busan ) Expressway ? ? Singal Interchange ? ? Yeongdong ( Incheon - Gangreung ) Expressway ? ? Manjong Junction ? ? Jungang ( Chuncheon - Daegu ) Expressway ? ? Seo Andong ( Andong West ) Exit ? ? take a left turn at a three forked road ( in the direction of Hahoe Village ) 2 ) In AndongAfter a tour of Hahoe Village , Mask Museum and Byongsan Seowon ( medieval school ) ? ? National Road No . 34 ? ? take a left turn at the entrance of Bongjeong Temple ? ? Bongjeong Temple By public transportationTake the train or bus to Andong , and take the bus in the city bound for Hahoe Village or Bongjeong Temple .