Gangneung: Ojukheon, Coffee Street & Wolhwaga Street Strolls! 🌳☕🚶‍♀️

#summervacay
When I was in Gangneung, I set out to explore some of the city's historical and cultural gems, followed by a relaxed stroll.

Ojukheon House (오죽헌)

My first stop was Ojukheon House, a famous historical site in Gangneung.

Admission & Hours: The entrance fee was 3,000 KRW, and it opens at 9 AM.

History & Significance: This traditional house, originally built in 1505, belonged to Choi Eung-hyeon, a high-ranking official. It gets its name from the "black bamboo" (Ojuk) planted around the property. Though not huge, the environment was incredibly pleasant and peaceful.

Famous Figures: What truly makes Ojukheon special is that it's the birthplace of the mother-son duo, Shin Saimdang and Yulgok Yi I. You'll recognize them as the figures on the 50,000 KRW and 5,000 KRW Korean banknotes, respectively! Yulgok Yi I was known for his exceptional academic achievements, consistently excelling in various examinations. Because of this, there's a Munseongsa Shrine on the grounds, where people can pray for academic success – quite fitting!

Museums & Activities: Beyond the old Ojukheon house, there's also the newly built Yulgok Memorial Hall, which houses various artifacts. I also found the Money Museum here to be quite fun and interactive! They had lots of hands-on activities, like printing your own currency, putting your face on a coin through a photo booth, and even playing games. I actually spent over two hours here, much longer than I expected for a seemingly small attraction.

Gangneung City Museum: There's also the Gangneung City Museum nearby, but it was closed when I went. I checked Google, and its rating was a bit low anyway, so I didn't feel like I missed much.

Seonsegyojang House (船橋莊)

Next, I headed to Seonsegyojang House, another traditional Korean residence.

Admission: The ticket price was 5,000 KRW.

Features: This house was built later than Ojukheon. Upon entering, the first thing I saw was a beautiful lotus pond and a viewing pavilion in a larger pond. In retrospect, this area was definitely the biggest highlight of the entire property!

#gangneung #ojukheon #seonsegyojang #koreanhistory #historicalsites #yulgokyii #shinsaimdang