Ungidaek House / 개실마을영농조합법인(웅기댁)

Ungidaek House of the Gaesil Village Farming Association Corporation is distinctive for its red clay exterior. This cozy hanok comprises two rooms: Juksil, which accommodates 6 people, and Maesil, which is suitable for 4 people. Each room is decorated with white wallpaper and a red clay floor sheet, and is equipped with TV, air-conditioner, toiletries, hairdryer, table, and other amenities. Each room has an ensuite bathroom and cooking equipment. Known as the village of the Seonsan Kim clan, Gaesil Village was founded by the descendants of Kim Jong-jik (pen-name: Jeompiljae, 1431-1492), a leading Korean Neo-Confucian scholar of the early Joseon period who died during the Literati Purge of 1498. The head house of Kim Jong-jik (Provincial Folk Material No. 62) and Doyeonjae (Provincial Cultural Heritage Material No. 111), the old village school, are also situated in the village. In addition, the nearby Daegaya Museum displays the writing accessories of Kim Jong-jik (Provincial Tangible Cultural Heritage No. 209). The village is also known as Gaehwasil, meaning “a beautiful valley with blooming flowers” as it is surrounded by a flower-covered mountain called Mt. Hwagaesan, a 350-year-old bamboo forest, and Jeopmubong Peak, which is said to resemble a fluttering butterfly. Over 80% of the village houses are traditional hanok buildings nestled amid a cozy environment. During the Campaign to Create Beautiful Communities conducted in 2001 and the Farm Experience Village Development Project in 2005, the village’s hanok were renovated or entirely rebuilt, earthen-stone walls were built, walking paths created, and refined landscaping works carried out, establishing the village in its current form. Furthermore, a village shelter, experience center, Internet café, and other facilities were built for the convenience of residents and visitors alike. In recognition of the villager’ efforts to revitalize their community, Gaesil was awarded the presidential citation at the Korea Rural Village Awards in 2011. Designated as a NongHyup’s Farm Stay Village in 2003, Gaesil operates a wide variety of hands-on experience programs relating to nature, agriculture, and local traditions, such as collecting sweet potatoes and rice planting; Korean traditional etiquette and tea ceremony; kite making and straw handicrafts; traditional food experiences such as yeot (Korean hard taffy) and yugwa (deep-fried sweet rice cakes); traditional games such as riding on a swing and neolttwigi (Korean see-saw); as well as loach fishing, ice sledding and so on. Gaesil Village, a representative farm stay village that “blooms” in every season, attracts around 50-60,000 visitors every year.