Many people wish to go an historical spot. So, there are many places that reconstruct historical facts. If you want to see Korean traditional lifestyle, you can see it at the Korean folk village. There are many traditional things from life's vestige to culture. But, if we want to see Korean modern lifestyle, where can we go? We can go to Buchon Fantastic Studios. Fantastic Studios is the place where we can experience the old streets and the old buildings of Seoul from the 1930's to the 1970's. From the 1930's to the 1970's, Western culture came to Korea in the form of lamps, electric railways, and famous buildings such as the Hwashin Department Store, Jongro Police Station, the Umikwan, the old YMCA building, and the recently restored Chongkyechon. These are restored buildings based on documents and witness interviews.
Fantastic Studios is used as a film studio for dramas, advertisements, music videos, and entertainment programs. Especially, there is the famous site of "Yain Sidae" (The Age of the Wild Ones), the TV drama about the story of Kim Doo-han. In addition, another name for Fantastic Studios is the "Yanin Sidae location." If you see where your favorite movie or drama was filmed, you will have more fun. If you check the shooting schedule on the Fantastic Studios website, you can see Korean stars as well as the shooting of a scene.
At Fantastic Studios you are able to experience transportations, buildings and foods that recall the memories and emotions of the past. A tram, the first modern transportation in Korea, ran between Dongdaemun and Kwanghwamun in 1899. You can take that tram along the old Jongno streets, and you can listen to the introduction about the buildings by the conductor who drives the tram. You can also ride a rickshaw and a bicycle to travel to every corner of Fantastic Studios. The hiring fee for all vehicles is 1,000 won. Fantastic Studios is comprised of a few operative buildings among many imitation buildings. The real buildings are restaurants. There is a noodle restaurant and a bar. You can taste many childhood snacks like big candy, hardtack, apollo, jjoljjori, odeng (boiled fish meat paste), hot dogs, and pupa in the stall. These snacks will satisfy your hunger.
Fantastic Studios is open all year round from 10am to 10pm, and entrance is allowed one hour before closing time. Fantastic Studio covers 39 square kilometers and you should allow one to two hours to experience all the attractions. Admission is 3,000 won for adults (over 19 years); 2,000 won for youths (13 years - 18 years); and 1,000 won for children (4 years - 12 years). Groups of over twenty people get a discount. Middle and high school students must show their student ID cards. For more information please visit the web site www.fantasticstudio.or.kr or call 032-236-2588.
