Andong

Andong is the capital city of Korean spiritual culture keeping traditional culture of Korea through the past 2,000 years. Over 280 cultural assets are scattered around the city. It takes 3 hours to get to Andong from Seoul, 2.5 hours from Busan or Daejeon, and 1 hour from Daegu by car.

Various cultural assets including national treasures and tangible or intangible cultural heritages are well preserved in the Andong Hahoe Folk Village, and the whole village was designated as Important Folk Material No.122. People live in every house in the village and you can enjoy the true folk culture of Korea there. They provide the traditional Korean mask dance on weekends (3 pm, every Sunday in March, April, November / 3 pm, every Saturday and Sunday from May to October). You can visit the village from 9 am to 5 pm during the winter season (Nov. ~ Mar.) and 9 am to 6 pm during the summer season (Apr. ~ Oct.).

The Andong International Mask dance Festival held since 1997 enters its 13th birthday this year. They provide exhibitions of world masks, the Andong cultural landmark festival, and Andong folk festival. 13 mask dances designated as Important Cultural Assets of Korea are performed during the festival and mask dances of many countries around the world are also introduced.
Dear My Friends,
Have you ever heard one of the Korean sayings related to a smile, such as, “If you laugh, blessings will come your way”? Since a long time ago, Koreans have always has lived and enjoyed their life by laughing.

As they have maintained laughs throughout time, Koreans overcame hard situations together when they suffered from tiring work or ordeals. In the Hahoe Mask Play, we can see it easily. Most masks that appear in the play have very happy facial expressions. The shape of the mask’s eyes hang downward and their mouth upward opened widely.

Sometimes, our ancestors made traditional songs and dance to overcome their fatigued life. The Hahoe mask shows this Korean custom well, too. Through the Hahoe Mask Play, people dissolved their stress about corrupt status systems. Because there was extreme discrimination between nobles and ordinary folks in Joseon (1392 1910) society, restriction and oppression against common people were strong.

So, as they took masks and pretended to be noble by play, they satirized the routine of nobles and exposed their anger. In this way, we can also understand ordinary Korean’s life and their particular emotion from the Hahoe Mask Play.

Then, aren’t you curious about its name, ‘Hahoe?’ ‘Hahoe’ is a name of a village in Andong. If you visit the Hahoe Folk Village in Andong, you can be more amused by the Hahoe Mask Play. You can see many kinds of Hahoe masks as well as the play held everyday. And as I said before, the Hahoe Folk Village holds joys and sorrows of former Koreans, because there are many places to feel the vestige of past even today. It is rare even for Koreans to keep culture and spirit constantly like then.

Besides, every October, you can also visit the Andong International Mask dance Festival in Hahoe village. There, you will be able to enjoy not only Korean Mask Dance, but also various traditional dances of countries round the world. Programs to learn many folk dances and mask dance contests are prepared for you during the festival. Maybe you will make unforgettable memories by participating in these activities.

In a busy and complicated society, you may feel frustration about yourself just like our Korean forefathers. Take this chance, come to Korea and visit the Hahoe village. It is filled with smiles you may need. Just enjoy, and recover your composure.

Best wishes, Hyemin

 * More information: http://city.andong.go.kr/open_content/en/