Walk Baek Inje House’s hanok courtyards in Bukchon for free

A modern hanok and its family

Built in 1913, the house passed to surgeon Baek In-je and his family in 1944. Seoul acquired it in 2009, and it now operates as a branch of the Seoul Museum of History. Its grounds show Bukchon’s residential architecture from inside rather than from the lane.

Quarters linked by a corridor

The sarangchae, where guests were received, and the family’s anchae are joined by a corridor, adding an indoor route to the traditional layout of separate quarters.

Brick and glass

Alongside timber and tiles are red brick, many glazed windows, Japanese-style corridors and tatami rooms, and part of the sarangchae has a second floor. These details reflect changes at the time of construction.

Window frames and wall materials are visible from outside. Some interiors are open only to tour participants and may be restricted.

Gardens and courtyards

The roughly 2,460-square-metre site holds the sarangchae and its garden, the anchae courtyard and a small detached building on higher ground. The overlapping rooflines change from one courtyard to the next.

The house sits in a residential neighbourhood, so visitors are asked to keep voices and photography discreet.

Hours and tours

Opening hours are 09:00–18:00 KST, with last entry at 17:30. It is closed Mondays and January 1 but opens on public-holiday Mondays. Admission is free.

October’s timetable lists tours in Japanese on Wednesdays, Chinese on Thursdays and English on Fridays, all at 16:00. The booking listing states the tours are for foreign visitors and does not guarantee places for Korean nationals. General exterior visits are not affected.

Tour booking

The editors suggest 30–45 minutes for an unhurried exterior visit. October tours last about 30 minutes for around 15 people per session. Reservations take priority, with on-site places only if any remain; bookings are taken through the October listing on Seoul’s public service reservation site.

The anchae opens depending on operations, and a booking does not guarantee access to every room. Online booking requires a Seoul integrated account and mobile-phone identity verification; visitors who cannot verify can ask by phone about joining.

Getting there and Jeongdok Library

The address is 16 Bukchon-ro 7-gil. From Exit 2 of Anguk Station on Line 3, walk about 500 metres towards the Constitutional Court. There is no on-site parking.

Jeongdok Library is nearby at 48 Bukchon-ro 5-gil. Hours vary by room; it closes on the first and third Wednesdays and on public holidays other than Sundays, with Sunday holidays also closed. House enquiries: +82-2-724-0200 or 0232.