MOLIT to Increase Number of Small and Medium-Sized Cities People Want to Visit Through Hanok Architecture

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\r\n[Financial News] The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) announced on the 19th that it will begin formulating policies to enhance the appeal of small and medium-sized cities as stay-type destinations by utilizing hanok architecture. The idea is to attract both tourists and new residents through hanok that preserve local landscapes and spatial culture, thereby strengthening the foundation for balanced regional growth.
According to MOLIT, the spread of K-content in recent years has heightened interest in famous hanok attractions, leading to an increase in visitors. Demand is also rising for experiences of Korea’s unique spatial culture, such as cafes and accommodations created by repurposing traditional hanok houses or vacant homes, as well as weekend homes and vacation houses.
MOLIT is using the promotion of hanok architecture and innovation in urban architectural design as key policy pillars, and is exploring directions for fostering small and medium-sized cities that people want to visit and stay in through expert meetings and consultations with related agencies. The plan is to leverage hanok as both regional landscape assets and stay-type content to enhance local competitiveness.
First, the ministry will focus on nurturing professionals who can lead the popularization of hanok. Since 2011, MOLIT has been training specialists in hanok design and construction, producing a total of 1,580 professionals to date. These experts have achieved results by winning hanok design competitions, securing construction contracts, and contributing to overseas exports.
In February, MOLIT will also launch a call for institutions to operate a training program for around 100 professional hanok architectural design and construction managers. The program will be run with 300 million won in state funding. In addition, the ministry is reviewing measures to advance curricula for hanok design, construction, and construction management, to present awards to outstanding training institutions, and to resume hanok camps for young people and teachers.
Modernization of hanok will proceed in parallel. MOLIT plans to update hanok-related statistics to better reflect reality and to explore ways to expand the hanok registration systems currently operated by some local governments. The ministry also intends to pursue research on modular hanok that apply traditional joinery techniques, reduce construction costs by improving the standardization of materials, and identify new business opportunities.
Over the mid to long term, the ministry is considering creating a hanok architecture industry–academia–research cooperation complex that links the entire value chain from hanok design and material production and distribution to specialized education, construction, and maintenance. These initiatives are being discussed as part of measures to promote hanok architecture under The Third Basic Plan for the Promotion of Architectural Assets (2026–2030).
Choi Ah-reum, Director of the Architectural Culture and Landscape Division at MOLIT, stated, “Hanok are architectural assets imbued with the leisure and philosophy of our ancestors’ lives,” adding, “We will continue to work on building a hanok architectural ecosystem so that hanok can firmly take root as both iconic attractions and everyday spaces that harmonize with local identity.”
en1302@fnnews.com Jang In-seo Reporter