Opening Fall with 'Garden Languages', Seoul Hanok Week 2025

The Seoul City will hold the 3rd 'Seoul Hanok Week' from September 26 (Friday) to October 5 (Sunday). Exhibitions, lectures, explorations, experiences, and performances will take place in the hanok dense areas of Bukchon and Seochon, with this year's theme being Garden Languages. The core of the event is an experiment in urban heritage through the courtyards, plantings, winds, and waterways of hanoks.

This year, over 90 related organizations and 50 facilities are participating, making the platform's character even clearer. Building on last year's success with approximately 35,000 participants, the connection with the local cultural festival 'Bukchon Day' has also been strengthened. The 'Garden Languages' exhibition will feature 10 participants in landscaping, terrariums, and photography across 7 public hanoks (5 in Bukchon and 2 in Seochon). Viewing hours are from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, closed on Mondays, and free of charge. Docent services will be available by separate reservation.

The exhibition will introduce 'Balance and Moderation' at the Bukchon Cultural Center, 'Microclimate's Place' at the Bukchon Village Library, 'Contemplation' at the Baeryeom House, 'Coexistence' at the Bukchon Hanok Center, and 'Remaining, Extra Heart' at the Hong Geon-ik House. There will also be rich 'experiences' outside the exhibition. Garden lectures, book talks, hanok open houses, and village tours will unfold in over 50 programs.

Planned events include garden lectures by chief planner Shin Ji-sun (9/26·10/3), a garden plant class by landscape architect Lee Yang-hee (9/30·10/2), book talks by artists Lim Han-sol and Kim Sun-mi, and a hanok open house by architect Kim Won-cheon (10/4). Music programs that capture the essence of autumn evenings are also notable. The interpretive music concert 'Garden Languages' (9/27) linked to the hanok exhibition, 'Joseon Buskers' (9/30) at the Open Songhyeon Green Space, and the 'Pilun-dong Concert' (9/27) at the Hong Geon-ik House are representative examples. Special experiences for family visitors, traditional tea tastings, and seasonal food experiences have also been prepared. The Bukchon Cultural Center's 'Chuseok Cultural Gathering', 'Mini Family Crest Making', 'Olge Shimni Wreath Making', and the hanok library 'Hanok Bookshelf' (9/26–10/5) will help visitors learn about hanoks and seasonal culture through their senses.

Participation is simple. Some programs require advance reservations (closing on 9/20 at 1:00 PM, with a lottery), and on-site registration will also be available on the day. Reservations and detailed information can be checked on the Seoul Hanok Portal, and the operation office can be contacted at 02-332-5671.

This year's Hanok Week questions the coexistence rules of landscapes and living areas through the interpretive framework of 'garden'. The exhibition is designed as a walking path that lightly connects the flow of pedestrian traffic in alleys, and the balance of residents' lives and visitor experiences is promoted through closed Mondays and segmented operating hours. Content that connects tradition and today (gardens, music, food, reading) also intricately expands the sense of recovery and sustainability.