Gyochon Traditional Village

Between Wolseong and the Namcheon stream in Gyeongju lies a village of low tiled-roof houses. Gyochon grew up around the site of Silla's national academy, later the local Confucian school, and its name simply means "the village with the hyanggyo". It is home to the house of the famous Choe family of Gyeongju, the Gyeongju Hyanggyo and the traditional liquor Gyodong beopju, and it sits right beside the reconstructed Woljeonggyo Bridge.

History: from national academy to Confucian school

Tradition holds that in 682, the second year of King Sinmun, Silla's first state academy, the Gukhak, was founded here. It continued as a district school under Goryeo and as a hyanggyo, a Confucian school, under Joseon, which is why the area was called Gyo-dong, Gyochon or Gyo-ri. Yoseokgung, linked to the story of the monk Wonhyo and Princess Yoseok, is also said to have stood nearby.

The surroundings are full of stories from the Samguk yusa: Gyerim, the grove where Kim Al-ji was born; the site of Muncheongyo bridge, where Wonhyo met the princess; Jaemaejeong, the well of Kim Yu-sin's house; and Woljeonggyo and Cheomseongdae along the Namcheon. A Joseon-era yangban village sits in the middle of Silla's remains.

What to see

• The Choe family house (Gyeongju Gyodong Choe Clan House): the head house of the wealthy Choe clan, on a site said to be that of Silla's Yoseokgung. It is traditionally dated to around 1700, although the exact date is unknown. The men's quarters and a detached pavilion burned down in November 1970 and only their foundations remain; the open square-plan inner quarters, gate wing, storehouse and family shrine survive. It is a National Folklore Cultural Heritage.
• Gyeongju Hyanggyo: the Joseon-era Confucian school with its Daeseongjeon shrine and Myeongnyundang lecture hall, the origin of the village's name.
• Gyodong beopju: Gyeongju Gyodong beopju, a liquor designated National Intangible Heritage, is brewed and sold in the village.
• Hanok lanes and the Namcheon: paths wind between restored hanok, and across the stream to the south stands Woljeonggyo, the largest wooden bridge in Korea. After dark the lights come on and it becomes an evening walk.

A closer look at the Choe house

The Choe family of Gyeongju lived in this house for nine generations. It was first designated as the "House of Choe Sik", but because it was widely known as the house of the rich Choe family of Gyo-dong, its name was changed in January 2007. The gate wing holds a small room and a large storehouse; the inner quarters behind the site of the men's quarters look like an open square, though the main body is actually U-shaped. A straight path from the south leads to the family shrine set apart to the northwest, and there is a flower garden behind the inner quarters. The house preserves much of the original form of a Joseon yangban home and is valued as an important record of one.

Silla stories along the Namcheon

Around the village are the settings of more Samguk yusa tales, such as King Jinji and Dohwa-nyeo, and the monk Chungdam. Restoration and landscaping have turned Gyochon into a place where the heritage keeps its original character while visitors can linger and explore.

Tripto tips

• Visiting: the village is open at all times, every day, and free, with parking. Information: Gyeongju City tourism office 054-779-6830~4.
• The Choe house: open 09:30–17:30, closed on the last Monday of each month; entry is free.
• When to go: see the houses and the hyanggyo by day, then catch the lights on Woljeonggyo and the Namcheon at dusk.
• Time needed: about an hour for the village; 2–3 hours if you walk on to Woljeonggyo, Gyerim and Cheomseongdae.
• Combine with: Woljeonggyo Bridge, about 240 m away. Gyerim, Cheomseongdae and Hwangnidan-gil are close by too.