In earlier days, a common type of Korean house was a rectangular, L or U-shaped single-story structure, built primarily of wood and clay. The roof was not high and was thatched with straw or, for the more well-to-do, roof-tiles. The simplest form of the typical Korean house consisted of a living room, a sleeping room and a kitchen, with the toilet set apart and away from the living quarters. The structure and size differed according to the size of the family, the range of social acquaintances and wealth. A larger house would consist of the main family quarters at the center, a closet, a maid's room, a barn and a toilet at the side. Toward the front part of the inner yard were quarters for the master of the house and for male guests, called "sarangchae," and adjoining the gate was a room for servants.

Today it would be difficult to point out a typical Korean house, for nearly all recent structures are of concrete or ferroconcrete construction. Though not widely recognized, this change, from predominantly wood structures to largely concrete structures, entails a subtle yet far-reaching transformation in the lifestyles of Koreans.
The individual Korean house, old or new, is built to protect its inhabitants from outside elements. Generally speaking, it is somewhat low, with relatively small rooms and not many doors or windows. Some of the rooms have ondol floors which are heated from under the clay floor. This system of heating is so ingrained in Korean life that even the most fashionable, Western-style houses built in recent years are, with few exceptions, provided with a few rooms that are heated through the floor. Likewise, many Koreans still prefer to sit and sleep on cushions and thick mats on the floor.
In a traditional Korean home, there is little furniture and seating is on the floor. Bedrooms and living rooms were not distinguished; a living room also functioned as a dining room. Anbang used by the women of the house was located at the back of the house and was used as a place for family gatherings. Not surprisingly, this room was also equipped with wardrobes, bedding and other domestic paraphernalia. The master of the house, by contrast, inhabited the front part (sarangchae) of the house which was also used as a reception room for guests. If he was an educated man, his rooms were equipped with a desk, shelves, books and a few cushions. Normally, he retired to his wife's room for the night.

Customs Among Kinship Groups

Among Koreans there is a strong bond between relatives and clan members. Adhering to traditional family-centered principles, the extended family in Korea is the first place to which people turn when they find themselves in trouble. In the past, brothers often lived in the same household after marriage and, in some cases, even cousins occupied different buildings in the same house. Although such large families living in the same house are rare these days, family members often reside in the same neighborhood and maintain frequent contact. Those who live far away tend to get together on special occasions such as a relative's marriage, the 60th or 70th birthday, a child's first birthday, and on traditional holidays. At such times everyone pitches in to assist with preparations for the ceremony.
Respect for one's ancestors is central to the family clan system. Special memorial services for great-great-grandparents are conducted in the home on the anniversary of their deaths, between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. For ancestors of the previous generation, services are held once a year, on Chuseok (the Harvest Moon Festival), the 15th day of the eighth month by the lunar calendar, or on a selected auspicious day. On this day, descendants gather at the ancestral tomb to perform rites. This memorial service is such an important event that even distant family members travel long distances to participate.
Clan members often take advantage of these gatherings to hold an annual conference. A clan that has many branches and members may divide into smaller units, each establishing a common coffer and property. The conference is organized to decide and implement policies of common interest such as the maintenance of ancestral tombs and the management of clan properties.
Koreans maintain a great reverence for their family history and meticulously record and update these genealogical records, which in many cases, go back several dozens of generations. They also minutely record official ranks, achievements, royal citations, the location of tombs and other information.
When meeting for the first time, Koreans of the same family name must first decide whether they are members of the same clan. If so, they must consult the genealogy to find how closely they are related. Should one of them belongs to an older generation, respect must be shown through the use of the polite form of the language.

What are the characteristics of the traditional Korean house?

 The Korean house has a peculiar form of room before anything else.  Its hip-saddle roof remindful of a flying wild goose curves down in front and rear and then, a little downward, slants on the right and left. So, it gives an impression of both lightness and magnificence.
The heads of the pillars supporting the roof are ornamented in various ways. This is another characteristic of the Korean house. They are called brackets. Originally the bracket was aimed at making the roof and the pillar engage each other tightly. As its ornamental importance increased gradually, it was gorgeously decorated with carving and painting. Besides, fanlike rafters and ornamental rafters in the four corners of the roof are alls impressive.
The colors and designs executed on the wooden parts of the Korean house, tot, constitute its specific feature. At first, they were intended to reinforce the wood by preventing it from getting moth-eaten, but as the days went by, they came to serve the decorative purpose with fine designs, colors and pictures.

Jangdok (Korean jars,kimchi,soybean paste, soybean sauce jars)

the Korean traditional kitchen

Ondol(under-floor heating system with fuel burnt at the fireplace in the kitchen) and room-furnishing are characteristic features of the Korean house.

Today traditionally Korean-style national architecture including the roof, brackets, pillars, lattice, balustrade, colorful ornamentation and the laying out of garden and park have been introduced superbly in building such structures as the Grand People's Study House erected in the heart of Pyongyang, Pyongyang Grand Theatre, People's Palace of Culture, Oknyu Restaurant, gate to the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery on Mt. Taesong, International Friendship Exhibition on Mt. Myohyang.

Modern Apartment Buildings in Pyeongyang		Pyeongyang city
Country Houses		Pyeongyang city