Gyodonggaon / 교동가온

Gyodong Gaon is located right in the middle of the main street of Jeonju Hanok Village. The word "gaon" means "middle" in Korean. It's a two-story traditional Korean house that stands out among the rest of the traditional Korean houses in the alley leading to Omokdae. Just inside the gate is a yard with colorful flower trees, jars of sauces, and furnace. The mural on one of the walls is popular among the guests as a place to take photos. The "numaru", or "loft" in Korean, overlooks the Hanok Village, and is one of the best places in the village to get a closer look at the 500 year old zelkova tree and the foot of the mountain nearby. Open to all the guests, the "numaru" is very popular during the winter as well as the summer. It's an open space with a wooden floor, so it's very cool during the summer, and it also serves as an observatory to enjoy the view of all the snow-covered trees and roofs in the Hanok Village during the winter while having a hot cup of tea. The owner of the guesthouse has been living here for 37 years. He rebuilt his house and turned it into a hanok guesthouse in 2014 while making sure the rooms are well insulated and comfortable to stay. He built a two-story building to make an efficient use of the space, and focused on making all the rooms look different. The house has five rooms, and only the “Meomulda Room” on the first floor is the only rooms with a living room separated from the bedroom. All you have to do is open the door to enjoy the view of the yard, Hanok Village, and Omokdae. The “Nanuda Room” on the second floor is the largest one that can accommodate more than five people, making it the most popular choice among families. The "Damda Room" and "Kkumkkuda Room" both have an attic that can be reached by a ladder. The attic is big enough to sleep two adults, and some guests actually sleep there for a unique experience. One of the walls of the attic is finished with cypress wood which has a pleasant scent. The “Geurida Room” has the best view through the two windows on the either side of the room, in addition to warm sunlight and cool wind that come through the window. Modern, not traditional, doors are installed in all the rooms for better sound proofing and insulation. Gyodong Gaon offers a number of experience programs, such as traditional games like “gulleongsoe”, “tuho", and “Korean top”, As well as “sabang chigi”, “sampalseon”, and “ttangttameokgi”. Many Korean adults are familiar with these games, while children and foreigners can find these games interesting. All these traditional Korean games are free to play.