Stone walls glowing under Seorak foliage: 500-year-old hanok village revives as travel gem

As autumn colors sweep across Mount Seorak, a quiet 500-year-old stone-wall village at its foothills is capturing travelers’ hearts. Sangdomun Village, nestled along the Ssangcheon Stream in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, is home to around 150 households and traces its history back to the early Joseon period (1392-1910). Once a popular stop for Seorak tourists, it faded from memory as large-scale resorts and new attractions emerged across Gangwon. But in recent years, the tranquil hanok-lined settlement has been rediscovered by younger visitors seeking slower, quieter journeys. The village, formed by families of the Andong Jang, Miryang Park, Gangneung Park, Gangneung Kim and Haeju Oh clans, has been inhabited by their descendants for centuries. Legend has it that Buddhist monks Wonhyo and Uisang achieved enlightenment here while traveling to Seoraksan, after hearing a mystical chanting sound from the forest. The village name, Domun — meaning “gate to enlightenment” — stems from this tale. Sangdomun’s most striking feature is its endless stone walls, built shoulder-high with roughWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times