Experience Traditional Culture at Okcheon Traditional Culture Center
The traditional culture experience centers in each region allow visitors to directly engage with our unique traditions, fostering pride in our culture among the younger generation while evoking childhood memories for adults.
Introducing the Okcheon Traditional Culture Center, a place where families can relax and enjoy together in the heart of the city.
Address: 100 Hyangsugil, Okcheon-eup, Okcheon-gun, Chungbuk
The Okcheon Cultural Experience Center, which opened in 2020, spans 11,720 square meters and features traditional Korean architecture. Key facilities include Gwanseong Hall (exhibition hall), Okcheon Hall (experience hall), Okju Hall (community center), Goshisan Hall (accommodation), and traditional play areas.
The purpose of today's visit is to experience traditional culture, which can be done at Okcheon Hall.
Experiences are categorized into food, crafts, and cultural activities, operating from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Cultural experiences are free, while food and crafts are paid. A 30% discount is available for those with a digital resident ID.
Popular food experiences include making 'Boram-tteok' (1 hour 20 minutes) and 'Ssukgaet-tteok' (1 hour) for 15,000 KRW, as well as 'Oranda Gangjeong' (30 minutes) for 15,000 KRW and 'Deulkkae Peanut Gangjeong' for 20,000 KRW.
All food experiences require participants to wash their dishes afterward.
The most popular experience is making 'Oranda Gangjeong', but I chose the longer process of making 'Boram-tteok'. Staff mentioned that making the rice cake takes the most time, so it would be good to make the snacks in between.
After registration, we moved to the experience area called 'Daecheongmaru', where aprons and gloves were provided, and the space was well-maintained.
I wondered if I could make this, but with the staff's help, I mixed rice flour with water and divided the red bean paste into 16 pieces of various sizes while it steamed.
Since I visited on a weekday morning, there were no other visitors, but given the popularity of the food experiences, I imagine it would be busier on weekends.
After steaming the rice flour, it needs to be kneaded well, and to add color to the rice cakes, we chose three out of six natural colorings.
Once the colored dough was ready, we rolled it out using a rolling pin.
After adding the filling, we used tools to shape the 'Boram-tteok'. Although I was a bit clumsy at first, I felt that even children could do it with a little help from adults. The staff was very supportive.
The 'Boram-tteok' was coming together beautifully, and I thought it looked fantastic.
This process, though challenging, felt playful and educational, allowing me to learn about another tradition.
With the leftover dough, I made various shapes like toys.
While the rice cakes were steaming, we had some free time to explore other activities.
In the craft area, you can make traditional Korean paper crafts, jewelry, pottery, and more, with prices ranging from 2,000 to 10,000 KRW. There are many experiences to enjoy, especially with children.
The free experiences at 'Bojangmaru' are also excellent, allowing you to engage with traditional cultures from around the world.
Another free activity is writing wishes, where you write your wish on paper and burn it during the first full moon of the lunar year to send it to the heavens.
After the rice cake making experience, we moved to the play area, where various traditional games are available for free.
The open maru at the entrance of Okcheon Hall is a great place to relax, with free tea available.
One of the highlights of the Okcheon Traditional Culture Center is the opportunity to stay overnight in Goshisan Hall, a traditional hanok.
As the weather warms, I highly recommend visiting the Okcheon Traditional Culture Center for a living experience of traditional culture.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/cbkb21/224189458138
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