Seongeup Folk Village

About this place

Seongeup is a traditional walled village on Jeju Island, with low houses of black volcanic stone and rope-bound thatched roofs, narrow lanes between stone walls, wooden gates and traditional stone statues at the entrances. It has been lived in for about 600 years, since the 15th century. It was the county seat from 1423, under King Sejong, and remained an administrative centre until 1914. It was once much larger, with around 1,500 households. The whole village and several of its houses are listed National Folklore Cultural Heritage, and two of its trees are Natural Monuments. Some houses date from the early 19th century. You walk the lanes between the houses, pass through the south gate of the wall and visit the open houses, where residents explain the traditional building methods. It is about 28 km in a straight line southeast of Jeju City. People still live here, so respect their privacy and do not enter closed houses.