Korean Folk Village

At the Korean Folk Village, Carlton McKinney tries on an A-frame.

Don’t miss the Korean Folk Village, 25 miles south of Seoul (phone 031-286-2111-3 or visit www.koreanfolk.co.kr). Villages that reflect different traditional styles of the past are built on 240 acres, including a nobleman’s mansion and a provincial governor’s office complete with jail.

Artisans in traditional costume are at work making crafts; we saw a man making mats of rice straw. We enjoyed a colorful dance performance, a wedding procession and other entertainments, including a tightrope walker and seesaw gymnasts.

This is very much a hands-on outdoor museum. You can try pounding with a rice mallet or see what it’s like to wear a traditional A-frame used for carrying loads. Be sure to arrive just as they open; there is so much to see.

SARA LEIBER McKINNEY

Los Angeles, CA