The Korea Times
April, when cherry blossoms reach full bloom, marks the peak of spring in Korea. In central Seoul, where skyscrapers dominate the skyline, those in search of a quieter, more tranquil landscape often head to Bukchon. Set between Gyeongbok Palace and Changdeok Palace, with Mount Bukak in the background, Bukchon has become a familiar stop for foreign tourists dressed in hanbok and posing for photos against palace walls. Long lines outside popular restaurants have also become part of the scene. Chun Kyung-hwan, head of the architecture firm Thescape, opened a hanok architecture office in Bukchon. He said he often asks himself why the neighborhood’s scenery never seems to lose its appeal. Now, as an “architecture docent” who has been guiding visitors through Bukchon’s hidden charms since June 2022, he shared his answer while leading one of his walking routes. Geonchunmun, the east gate of Gyeongbok Palace His architectural journey begins at Geonchunmun. The reason, he explains, is that the gate makes it immediately clear that Bukchon, unlike other areas whose boundaries are drawn for a
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