Seongyojang House, Gangneung
Historic house, National Folklore Cultural Heritage · Data as of
Seongyojang in Gangneung is a National Folklore Cultural Heritage house where, for ₩5,000 (adults), you can see a Joseon upper-class home and Hwallaejeong Pavilion over its pond. It is in Unjeong-dong, about 4 km from central Gangneung toward Gyeongpo. Yi Nae-beon, a descendant of Grand Prince Hyoryeong, built the house in 1703 in the reign of King Yeongjo of Joseon, and his descendants are said to live there still. Long servants’ quarters surround the women’s quarters (anchae), the men’s quarters (sarangchae), the east annex (dongbyeoldang) and the family shrine, and outside the gate Hwallaejeong Pavilion stands over a pond of several hundred pyeong. It is open from 9:00 to 18:00 all year. Youth pay ₩3,000 and children ₩2,000, and groups of 30 or more have separate rates.
- Location
- 강원특별자치도 강릉시 운정길 63 (운정동)
- Opening hours
- 9:00 to 18:00
- Closed
- Open all year
- Admission
- Individuals: adults ₩5,000, youth ₩3,000, children ₩2,000. Groups of 30 or more: adults ₩4,000, youth ₩2,500, children ₩1,500
- Contact
- +82-33-648-5303
- Restrooms
- Available
Official information page (Korean)
What is Seongyojang?
Short answer: A scholar-aristocrat’s house built in 1703 in the reign of King Yeongjo of Joseon, and the best-preserved upper-class house in Gangwon-do.
The name Seongyojang comes from the village name Seongyo-ri, "boat-bridge village": when Gyeongpoho Lake was larger than it is today, people crossed to the village by boat. A place name from the days when the lake reached the front of the house became the name of the house itself.
A story goes that Yi Nae-beon, a descendant of Grand Prince Hyoryeong, built the house on an auspicious site he stumbled upon while chasing a pack of weasels, and his descendants still live in the house today. According to the Korea Heritage Service, it was designated National Folklore Cultural Heritage on April 20, 1967.
What are the opening hours and admission fees?
Short answer: Individual admission is ₩5,000 for adults, ₩3,000 for youth and ₩2,000 for children (groups of 30 or more: ₩4,000, ₩2,500 and ₩1,500). It is open from 9:00 to 18:00 every day of the year.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | 강원특별자치도 강릉시 운정길 63 (운정동) |
| Opening hours | 9:00 to 18:00 |
| Closed | Open all year |
| Admission | Individuals: adults ₩5,000, youth ₩3,000, children ₩2,000. Groups of 30 or more: adults ₩4,000, youth ₩2,500, children ₩1,500 |
| Contact | +82-33-648-5303 |
| Restrooms | Available |
It closes at 18:00, so to have time to walk around to Hwallaejeong, go in by 16:00 or so at the latest. Fees may change, so check with +82-33-648-5303 before you visit.
What should I see at Seongyojang?
Short answer: Walk through the anchae, sarangchae, dongbyeoldang and family shrine enclosed by the long servants’ quarters, then visit Hwallaejeong Pavilion over the pond outside the gate.
The buildings survive in good order, so the layout shows how the upper class lived in the late Joseon period. The men’s and women’s quarters are separated inside the servants’ quarters, and the household objects and way of living are valued as material for research on late Joseon domestic life.
Outside the gate is Hwallaejeong, a pavilion built over a pond of several hundred pyeong. Because the living quarters and the pond garden survive together, visitors tend to stay longer here than at places where you only see the house.
What heritage designations does Seongyojang have?
Short answer: Korea Heritage Service records list two designated heritage items at Seongyojang.
| Designated heritage | Category | Designated on |
|---|---|---|
| Seongyojang House, Gangneung | National Folklore Cultural Heritage | April 20, 1967 |
| Taegeukgi (Korean flag) kept at Seongyojang, Gangneung | National Registered Cultural Heritage | April 27, 2015 |
Where can I stay near Seongyojang House?
Short answer: The closest is 강릉오죽한옥마을 (hanok stay), about 15 min walk. These are the 1 closest stays within 2 km.
| Stay | Type | Distance | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| 강릉오죽한옥마을 | Hanok stay | 1.2 km | About 15 min walk |
Distances are straight-line distances, so the actual route may be longer; walking times assume 80 m per minute. Select a stay to open its page (in Korean) with check-in times and nearby restaurants and cafés. Property names are shown as officially registered in Korean.
Where can I eat or get coffee near Seongyojang House?
Short answer: 5 restaurants between 351 m and 495 m, and 5 cafés between 100 m and 953 m, listed from the closest.
| Restaurant | Type | Distance | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| 무네막국수 | Kalguksu (noodle soup) | 351 m | About 4 min walk |
| 강릉본가막국수 | Kalguksu (noodle soup) | 373 m | About 5 min walk |
| 정든꾹저구탕 | Korean | 436 m | About 5 min walk |
| 날밀보리뜰 | Korean | 475 m | About 6 min walk |
| 배다리막국수 | Kalguksu (noodle soup) | 495 m | About 6 min walk |
| Café | Type | Signature menu | Distance | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 카페 리몽 | Café | 정보 없음 | 100 m | About 1 min walk |
| 카페파나마 | Dessert café | 아메리카노, 라떼 | 499 m | About 6 min walk |
| 서지초가뜰 | Café | 씨종지떡, 인절미와플 | 626 m | About 8 min walk |
| 서원커피랩 | Roastery, specialty coffee | 쑥 인절미 아이스크림 토스트, 인절미 크림 라떼 | 790 m | About 10 min walk |
| 카페칠공공 | Café | 디카페인커피, 카푸치노 | 953 m | About 12 min walk |
Select a name to open its page on our restaurant or café guide (in Korean). The small dots on the map also show nearby places that are not in the tables.
See it on the map
The large purple pin is Seongyojang House. Tap a pin to see its name and distance.
What else is there to see near Seongyojang House?
Short answer: The closest is Haeunjeong Pavilion (about 7 min walk), and there are 5 attractions within 4 km.
| Attraction | Type | Distance | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haeunjeong Pavilion | Pavilion, cultural heritage | 534 m | About 7 min walk |
| Ojukheon House | Cultural heritage, museum | 946 m | About 12 min walk |
| Gyeongpodae Pavilion | Pavilion, Treasure, Scenic Site | 1.4 km | About 1.4 km (straight line) |
| Gyeongpoho Lake | Lake, migratory bird habitat | 1.9 km | About 1.9 km (straight line) |
| Heo Nanseolheon Pine Forest | Pine forest | 2.2 km | About 2.2 km (straight line) |
Who is Seongyojang House good for?
- Anyone who wants to see the layout of a late Joseon scholar-aristocrat’s house
- Those who want to walk an old house garden and a pavilion over a pond together
- Anyone combining the heritage sites around Gyeongpoho Lake in one day
Check before you go
- Fees may change, so call before you visit
- Descendants live in the house, so follow on-site guidance about which areas are open
Checklist
- Enter by around 16:00 to leave time for Hwallaejeong
- For groups, ask in advance about the rates for 30 or more
- Pick nearby restaurants and cafés on the map in advance
Photos of Seongyojang House
Frequently asked questions
How much is admission to Seongyojang?
Individuals: adults ₩5,000, youth ₩3,000, children ₩2,000. Groups of 30 or more: adults ₩4,000, youth ₩2,500, children ₩1,500.
Until what time can I visit?
It is open from 9:00 to 18:00 every day of the year.
Where does the name Seongyojang come from?
When Gyeongpoho Lake was larger than today, people crossed by boat, so the village was called the boat-bridge village, Seongyo-ri.
Where is the closest place to stay near Seongyojang House?
Hanok stay 강릉오죽한옥마을 is the closest (about 15 min walk). Its page, in Korean, shows the check-in time and nearby restaurants and cafés.
Things to do in Gangneung
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Sources
- Korea Tourism Organization TourAPI, Korean-language tourist information (attraction details) · Korea Tourism Organization · accessed 2026-10-23 (Korean-language source)
- Korea Heritage Open API (heritage list and details) · Korea Heritage Service · accessed 2026-10-23 (Korean-language source)
- Official information page · Operator · accessed 2026-10-23 (Korean-language source)
Fees, hours and closing days can change. Please check with the site before you visit.