A Historical Experience Connecting 14 Places in Bugang: The Sambodeul Cooperative

A Resident-Run Enterprise in Bugang That Began with the 2020 Tourism Dure Program

Sambeodeul Cooperative began as a resident-run enterprise under the Tourism Dure program in 2020 and was selected as an Outstanding Dure in 2022. As a village enterprise that promotes the modern and contemporary history and culture of Bugang-myeon and carries on traditional culture, it plans projects to promote the enjoyment of traditional culture and develops educational content.

Its name comes from “Sambeodeul,” an old name for Bugang meaning that there were three large willow trees. The cooperative researches the culture and history of Bugang-myeon, where commerce developed from ancient times thanks to the waterways of the Geumgang River. On November 15, 2022, it received a commendation from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

A Place at 6 Sijang 1-gil Where You Meet Through Reservation-Based Experiences

The address is 6 Sijang 1-gil, Bugang-myeon, Sejong Special Self-Governing City. Rather than being a tourist attraction where visitors simply view permanent exhibits, it is closer to a base for booking and joining programs such as the Hong Pan-seo House Historic Residence, Little Traveler Village, and folk-painting workshops.

Depending on the source, the operating hours are listed differently as open 24 hours or 09:00–18:00. Although some sources list it as open year-round, advance reservations are required, so it is safer to first ask about operating status and reservations at 010-9865-6966 or 044-863-5735 instead of arriving without notice.

The Korea Tourism Organization’s visitor information lists telephone reservations as the participation method. No independent official website is provided; the official online information is the Sambeodeul Cooperative page on the Korea Tourism Organization website.

Little Traveler Village Means Walking Around 14 Places at Once

Little Traveler Village is a walking-tour course that has operated since 2018 and connects 14 attractions in Bugang. It includes Hong Pan-seo House, the former site associated with Kaneko Fumiko, Bugang Station, Bugang Catholic Church, and the old Kim Jae-sik House, among others. The tour is conducted with commentary by Lee Gyu-sang, the representative of Sambeodeul Cooperative.

All 14 sites are described as being close enough to reach on foot, but the exact distance and recommended duration of the full course have not been confirmed in publicly available sources. If visiting all of them feels too demanding, you can select only the places that suit your schedule and interests.

The course explains the region’s modern and contemporary history by location, including a reenactment of the March 1st Movement that took place in front of Bugang Station and a memorial rite related to Kaneko Fumiko. Kaneko Fumiko is introduced as a person who spent her childhood in Bugang and witnessed the March 1st Movement, and is also described as the first Japanese woman to be recognized as an independence activist.

Experiencing the 24 Seasonal Divisions in the 1866 Hong Pan-seo House

Hong Pan-seo House is a traditional Korean residence built in 1866, the third year of King Gojong’s reign, and designated as a National Folklore Cultural Heritage. It is a typical upper-class home of central Korea, set on level ground and facing south on a gentle slope. A courtyard house with a ㄷ-shaped main building one step higher and a ㄷ-shaped men’s quarters one step lower forms an overall ㅁ-shaped layout.

The inner courtyard contains a well and a juniper tree, allowing visitors to see not only the building arrangement but also traces of everyday living spaces. Hong Pan-seo House is not merely a viewing area; it is a historic venue available for first-birthday parties and traditional wedding ceremonies.

As of September 2026, experiences featuring the customs of the 24 seasonal divisions and traditional clothing, food, and housing culture were listed at 15,000–55,000 won. Tea ceremonies, craft instruction, and seasonal-customs food experiences are also offered. If you had planned only to look around the exterior of the traditional house, it is advisable to confirm by phone which areas require reservations and which are available for general viewing.

Choosing Folk-Painting Designs at Sambeodeul Little Library

The folk-painting workshop is available at Sambeodeul Little Library, with the fee listed as 15,000 won as of September 2026. Participants choose one design, such as a flower-and-bird painting or a painting of a magpie and tiger, and wrap the finished work with hanji paper and twisted cord.

The library has approximately 3,000 books, ranging from general literature to books for young children. It also stores books about Bugang-myeon’s history and nearby cultural properties, out-of-print cultural-property survey reports, and audiovisual materials.

Visitors who reserve only the folk-painting workshop can therefore also explore materials on local history. The workshop is listed as a 15,000-won program rather than free admission, and participation requires a telephone reservation, so it is best to ask in advance about design selection and available times.

Seeing Traces of a Goguryeo Southern Stronghold at Namseonggolsanseong Fortress

Namseonggolsanseong Fortress, included in Little Traveler Village, is a mountain fortress from the Three Kingdoms period. It is located at the southernmost point among Goguryeo military-defense remains discovered to date. Archaeologists have found a palisade fortress, residential facilities with ondol heating, and kiln sites where Goguryeo-style pottery was fired.

The designated name of this heritage site also changed as administrative boundaries changed. It was designated in 2003 as Chungcheongbuk-do Monument No. 130, “Cheongwon Namseonggolsanseong Fortress,” and redesignated in 2012 as the Sejong City Monument “Bugang Namseonggolsanseong Fortress.”

In addition to Namseonggolsanseong Fortress, nine other fortresses have been discovered in Bugang-myeon, including Temaesanseong, Seongjaesanseong, and Bokdusansanseong. Whether the fortress sections are included should be confirmed when booking the walking tour, as public sources do not provide the overall course’s slopes or duration.

Bugang Catholic Church and Spatial Changes Since 1962

Bugang Catholic Church is introduced as a place where visitors can see the transition from a traditional Korean-style Catholic church to a North American-style church at a glance. After the new church was built in 1962, the traditional church building was used as a rectory and convent, among other purposes, and is now used as a meeting room.

Little Traveler Village connects Bugang Station, Bugang Catholic Church, Hong Pan-seo House, and other sites within one program. Because it is structured around examining changes in traditional residential culture, railways and commerce, and religious architecture across 14 attractions, reserving a guided commentary is more meaningful than visiting only one place independently.

Sambeodeul Cooperative develops content using cultural properties in Bugang-myeon, including Hong Pan-seo House and Bugang Catholic Church, and operates experience programs linked to traditional-culture and history education. The historic spaces can also be rented for cultural performances, first-birthday parties, and traditional wedding ceremonies.

Traditional Wedding Ceremonies Continuing as a Living Tradition, Like the 2023 Golden Anniversary Ceremony

In June 2023, Sambeodeul Cooperative held a traditional wedding ceremony known as a golden anniversary ceremony for national meritorious persons. The event was hosted by Sambeodeul Cooperative and sponsored by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and the National Daejeon National Cemetery. Traditional wedding ceremonies were held for Korean War veterans.

The tourism-information experience list includes a video record of a dandelion seedhead, a traditional wedding ceremony, and a walking tour. This means the activities go beyond simply taking photographs against the backdrop of an old house; they also include recording and reenacting local memories and rituals.

If you are considering renting the venue for a traditional wedding or first-birthday party, you should inquire separately from ordinary visitor arrangements. Experiences at the Hong Pan-seo House historic residence are listed at 15,000–55,000 won, but rental fees and participation requirements have not been made public.

Access Information Foreign Visitors Should Know Before Their First Visit

Public sources do not provide the station name, exit number, bus routes, or walking time for reaching Sambeodeul Cooperative by public transportation. However, Little Traveler Village itself is described as a walking program that includes Bugang Station, Bugang Catholic Church, and other locations.

Some sources state that parking is available for approximately 90 vehicles, but this has not been reconfirmed through official or public sources, and parking fees have not been provided. Other tourism-information sources state that restroom availability is not listed, so if you reserve a long walking course, it is practical to ask about available facilities before setting out.

The Korea Tourism Organization’s Accessible Tourism information states that a ramp accessible to wheelchair users is installed on the main entrance access route and that the secondary entrance can accommodate wheelchairs. Some sources also state that guide dogs are permitted, but information about English guidance, audio guides, photography restrictions, and cash or card payment is not publicly available.

Organizing Fees and Reservations in One Visit Plan

As of September 2026, the listed fees are 15,000 won for Little Traveler Village, 15,000 won for the folk-painting workshop, and 15,000–55,000 won for the 24-seasonal-division customs and traditional clothing, food, and housing experience at Hong Pan-seo House. Some sources list separate facility admission as free, but this should be distinguished from fees for experience programs.

The operating-hours listings of open 24 hours and 09:00–18:00 coexist, while the closed day is listed as none year-round. Therefore, you should not interpret “open 24 hours” to mean that experiences are available at any time. For programs requiring reservations, it is safest to inquire at 010-9865-6966 or 044-863-5735 during the listed 09:00–18:00 hours.

The recommended order is to confirm the reservation details with Sambeodeul Cooperative, choose walkable sites among the 14 locations in Little Traveler Village, and then add an experience at the Hong Pan-seo House historic residence or Sambeodeul Little Library. Since no independent official website is provided, the Korea Tourism Organization information page should be used as the primary source of information.