Lee Hyo-seok (Buckwheat Blossoms) Memorial Village and Festival

Lee Hyo-sok Village (from Visit Korea website)

Lee Hyo-sok Village (from Visit Korea website)

Lee Hyo-seok is a beloved Korean author best known for  his story When Buckwheat Blossoms Bloom. In recognition of his importance to Korean literature, a Memorial Village and Festival have been created in his honor.

When Buckwheat Blossoms Bloom is set in his hometown Bongpyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun) and the area is still famous for its buckwheat production. The town is surrounded by a ring of 1,500 meter tall mountains and the Lee Hyo-seok Memorial Hall is located in the town inside the Lee Hyo-seok Culture Village which, in 1990 was designated ‘the first national cultural village,’ by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The site features is a small river, a water mill house, a small thatched house and the inevitable miniature dioramas of the novel. Admission costs 2 chun and the webpage helpfully notes that:

Visitors not interested in Korean language do not need to go there, but should instead visit the birth place of Lee Hyo-Seok, located about 800 meters away. It includes an exhibition of various types of traditional agricultural equipment from the countryside and tasting of buckwheat cold noodles, buckwheat coffee, and buckwheat pancakes, all unforgettable tastes that represent the best in town.

At the end of August to early September (the date differs each year) the annual Lee Hyo-seok Cultural Festival takes place. Everything, of course, is buckwheat themed and the events include an essay contest, a photo contest, a colorful parade and a variety of films and performances related to Buckwheat Blossoms. There is also an abundance of buckwheat based food, including excellent noodles and pancakes.

GETTING THERE (From Seoul)

Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (Gangbyeon Station, Subway Line 2).
Take an intercity bus to Jangpyeong Intercity Bus Terminal (Gangwon-do).
From the terminal take a bus or taxi to Bongpyeong.

LEE HYO-SEOK CULTURE VILLAGE INFORMATION
Address Gangwon-do Pyeongchang-gun Bongpyeong-myeon Changdong 4-ri
Inquiries • 1330 tt call center: +82-33-1330
(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
• For more info: +82-33-330-2700,
+82-33-335-9669, +82-33-330-2771

MEMORIAL HALL INFORMATION
Hours: 09:00 ~ 18:00
Closed: Every Monday, Jan. 1, Harvest Moon Festival (Chuseok)

Admission:
Adults: 2,000 won (Groups: 1,500 won)
Junior/high school students: 1,500 won (Groups: 1,000 won)
Elementary school students: 1,500 won (Groups: 500 won)

Directions: Yeongdong Expressway from Hobeop or Singal Interchange -> past Wonju,/Saemal -> Jangpyeong Interchange -> National Road #6 towards Bongpyeong

 

WEBLIOGRAPHY

Lee Hyo-seok Culture Village
http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=1391571
accessed March 11,2012

Lee Hyo-seok Memorial Hall
http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Travel2/411
accessed March 11,2012