We wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of Seoul, so Hyeyeon and I went to Yangpyeong, about an hour away from the city. We stayed for two days at the home of a Korean family that had left the city to settle in nature. The house was a huge American-style building with a basement, built by the family themselves. In this post, while describing those two days, I share what village life is like in Korea, what to keep in mind when visiting a Korean family's home, and how to get from Seoul to Yangpyeong.
Watch the Video: The Home of a Wealthy Korean Family
We Got Tired of the City and Escaped to the Countryside: Where Is Yangpyeong?
Yangpyeong is a green area in Gyeonggi Province, east of Seoul. On the way, we saw people playing golf; we drove through mountains, trees, and scattered houses. I asked Hyeyeon, "We call places like this villages; do you have them too?" Of course, but it's not the same as the concept of a village in Turkey. This is more of a rural area where families escaping the city build their own homes, with well-maintained roads and cafes.
Our hosts were exactly the kind of people this story is about. They had first tried living in the countryside, then decided to stay here. They told us this themselves: Not everyone likes the countryside, so you have to try it first. They had previously lived in another village, then bought this land and built the house themselves. The house is about four years old.
An American House in a Korean Village: An Interior House Tour
As soon as we entered the door, I said, "I've never seen a house like this before." The lady of the house explained that her husband, Dongjun, had built the house. It was the complete opposite of the high-rise apartments I was used to in Korea: a spacious garden, large windows, and an open view.
1. A House Built with Their Own Hands
This was the most impressive thing about the house. Dongjun and his wife designed the house taking a lot of inspiration from American houses. The lady of the house said, "We have an American dream too, everyone does"; and the house was like the Korean version of this dream. But they also clearly stated one thing: The work on a house like this is never finished. Even when we visited, they were still doing things in the basement.
2. Basement and Bar
You don't see many houses with basements in Korea, so we asked, "Where do you go down?" and went down. I didn't expect it to be this big. There was even a small bar area downstairs; at one point we got lost between the doors and laughed, saying, "I guess we won't be able to get out."
3. Children's Rooms and Starry Sky
The rooms of the son, Yeohun, and the daughter, Sia, are separate. Sia's room was so beautiful that I jokingly asked, "Shall we swap rooms?" I asked Yeohun how many minutes it took to get to school from here and what he liked most about living here. He said he could watch the stars. Something a child growing up in the city could hardly experience.
4. My Dream Office
There is a studio-like workspace in one corner of the house. I looked at it and said, "This is actually my dream office." A desk overlooking the view, a comfortable chair, and silence. For someone who films videos and works remotely, it's hard to find anything better.
The $700,000 in the title is the figure we used for the value of this house. House prices in Korea, especially in Seoul, are very high; the prices of detached houses outside the city vary greatly depending on the region, the land, and the building. If you want to get a definite idea, you need to look at current listings.
Children's Paradise: Mandu, Shy Princess, and Dominoes
The children had been waiting for Hyeyeon, their "aunt," since morning. But when I entered, everyone hid. Sia ran away as I approached; her mother said, "Our concept is a princess concept." Yeohun had studied English for me, but he was shy. Because I had trouble pronouncing his name, I started calling him "Huni." Once he warmed up a bit, they started calling me "Turkish BTS." I gave them a small reward we bought at a fish market as a gift.
The house also has a dog: Mandu. Mandu means dumpling in Korean. At one point, it turned into a game of "Catch Mandu," and we all ran around in the garden together.
Will an Hour's Effort Be Worth It?
Yeohun and Sia had spent an hour setting up a long domino line on the ground. We talked at length about who would knock it over, where to start, and how to make a "cool start." My hand shook, and finally, Yeohun knocked it over. There was a small timing error, but we set it up again, and the game turned into a "who can pick up more" race.
Village or Amusement Park?
I did a short interview with Yeohun: What is it like living in Yangpyeong? He said, "It's nice, very nice." But he was honest: Things like amusement parks are nicer in Seoul. His favorite thing about Yangpyeong is the walking paths. I think this answer is a good summary for anyone considering moving to the countryside.
Korean Table: Eel, Bibimbap Sauce, and Spice
Dinner was served, but the children couldn't sit still; we had to warn them, "You need to sit down and eat." There was eel on the table. I also heard the name "baeksuk"; Korean boiled chicken dish. We celebrated at the table with sparkling wine. I thought it was champagne at first, then it turned out to be an Italian sparkling wine. Sia also toasted with orange juice. When the hosts asked, "What do you say in Turkish?", we said, "Bon appétit."
The next day, we made noodles with bibimbap sauce. Everyone showed me how to use chopsticks, and I showed them shyly. At one point, something very spicy came to the table; my lips burned. It's a good idea to say from the start that I can't handle spice in Korea. When they introduced me at the table as "a very famous YouTuber in Turkey," I felt a little embarrassed too.
If You Visit a Korean Family's Home
This part is not from the video, but general information; however, it will be useful if you are invited to a home in Korea:
- Take off your shoes: You don't enter Korean homes with shoes on. Wear clean and hole-free socks.
- Bring a small gift: Fruit, sweets, or something small from your country is enough. We brought a small gift for the children, and it helped break the ice.
- Wait for the elders at the table: Generally, it is considered polite not to start eating before the oldest person starts.
- Don't stick chopsticks vertically into the rice: This gesture brings to mind funeral ceremonies.
- Use both hands when pouring drinks: Especially when filling a glass for someone older than you or receiving a glass.
Yoga in the Garden and Singing Bowls
The lady of the house is a yoga teacher. In the morning, she got us up for yoga in the garden. One thing she said while doing yoga stuck in my mind: How a person uses their body shows their temperament very well. Perfectionists try to feel every joint of their spine, and this is too much. When you repeat a movement with your breath a few times, you return to the present; if it doesn't work, your mind is somewhere else.
Then we had a session with singing bowls. According to what she explained, the sounds of the bowls go from "Do" to "Do," and each sound corresponds to one of the seven chakras. The order is roughly as follows:
- Do, root chakra: survival and grounding.
- Re, second chakra: emotions, intimacy, and creativity.
- Mi, third chakra: will and self-confidence.
- Fa, heart chakra: love.
- Sol, throat chakra: communication, expression, and honesty.
- Third eye: wisdom.
- Upper Do, crown chakra: transcendence.
The idea is: Whatever area you feel lacking in, you play that sound when you wake up in the morning. She asked me, "What is your problem?" I said "survival," and she thought mine was "beyond reality, other worlds." From that moment on, my nickname became "OgiBuda." These are things she believes in and teaches; I am sharing them not as a medical or scientific claim, but as a yoga teacher's perspective.
The lady of the house was eight months pregnant at the time; they were expecting their second daughter. During the conversation, she also told us about her childbirth experience in Korea. According to her own experience, in Korea, you hug the baby for a short time after birth in the hospital, then the baby goes to the baby room, and many mothers stay in a postpartum center for a week after birth. Because she felt it was like a "factory," she had her second birth in water. This is entirely her personal choice; you should make every decision about birth by talking with your doctor.
Mugunghwa Flower Bloomed: Playing with Korean Children
Before leaving, we played Korea's most well-known children's game in the garden: "Mugunghwa kkochi pieot seumnida," meaning "Mugunghwa flower bloomed." It is the Korean version of our "red light, green light" or "statue" game; it became known worldwide with the Squid Game series. When the tagger turns around and says the sentence, everyone approaches them; when the tagger turns back, anyone who moves is out.
I misunderstood the rule at first; apparently, you need to catch someone before the tagger crosses the line. Then I became the tagger and couldn't catch anyone easily. Finally, only Hyeyeon was left. It is surprisingly fun even for an adult.
While saying goodbye, the lady of the house gifted Hyeyeon a yoga mat with her own brand's "Yogabe" logo. She said, "It's not an expensive thing, it's a pleasure for us." We said goodbye to everyone one by one, congratulated her once more for the baby, and waved to Mandu too.
How to Get from Seoul to Yangpyeong?
It is easy to go to Yangpyeong from Seoul for a day trip. The times below are approximate and general information; departure times and fees may vary, check the current fare before going.
| Option | From | Time (approx.) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subway (Gyeongui-Jungang Line) | Cheongnyangni, Wangsimni | 1-1.5 hours | The cheapest way, can be ridden with a T-money card |
| KTX (Gangneung Line) | Seoul Station, Cheongnyangni | 30-50 minutes | Not every train stops, buy the ticket in advance |
| Car | Seoul center | Around 1 hour | Weekend traffic may extend it |
The area is wide and the distances between points are long. After Yangpyeong Station, you may need a bus or taxi. While in Yangpyeong, you can also visit Dumulmeori, where two rivers meet, Semiwon, known for its lotus garden, and Yongmunsa Temple, famous for its century-old ginkgo tree. In the countryside, work is hard without a map, a taxi app, and translation; You can look at South Korea eSIM packages from Yırtık eSIM. If you want to plan your budget before going to Korea, my travel plan guide will also be useful.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Yangpyeong from Seoul?
About an hour. You can go in 1-1.5 hours with the Gyeongui-Jungang subway line, or in a shorter time with the KTX.
What is village life like in Korea?
In places like Yangpyeong where we stayed, a village is a green area with detached houses of families escaping the city. There is nature, silence, and a spacious garden; for things like amusement parks and shopping, you need to go to the city.
What to bring when visiting a Korean family's home?
Fruit, sweets, or a small gift from your country is enough. If there are children, bringing a small thing for them immediately breaks the ice.
What is the Mugunghwa kkochi pieot seumnida game?
The Korean version of our "red light, green light" game. When the tagger turns around and says the sentence, the players approach; when the tagger turns back, anyone who moves is out.
Are shoes allowed in homes in Korea?
No. In Korean homes, shoes are taken off at the entrance. Don't forget to wear clean socks.
In my previous post, I told the Azerbaijan stage of my walk from Turkey to Mongolia: Walking Travel in Azerbaijan and Gence. My last post in Korea was about Busan Turkish Cemetery and Haedong Yonggungsa. I will tell the other stops waiting for us in Korea in my next posts.
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