Hanok: The Structure of Traditional Korean Houses

Tap a term to see what it means.

Ondol (Underfloor Heating)

A traditional heating system that channels heat and smoke from a fire beneath the floor, warming the entire room from below. It is considered one of the oldest radiant floor heating systems in the world.

Maru (Wooden Floor Hall)

An elevated wooden-floored space open to the outside air, used for cooling in summer, in contrast to the heated ondol rooms used in winter.

Madang (Courtyard)

An open earthen courtyard at the center of a hanok, used for daily chores, gatherings, and drying crops.

Giwa (Roof Tiles)

Curved clay roof tiles that give hanok roofs their distinctive gentle upward curve at the eaves, both for aesthetics and to help channel rainwater.

Hanji (Traditional Paper) Windows

Sliding doors and windows covered with hanji, a traditional mulberry-fiber paper, which lets in soft, diffused light while providing insulation.

Cheoma (Eaves)

The overhanging edge of the roof, angled to block direct summer sun while allowing the lower winter sun to reach into the house.

A house designed around the seasons

Hanok architecture is often cited as an example of a building designed to work with the seasons: ondol-heated rooms for winter, open maru floors for summer, and eaves calculated to control sunlight angle across the year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ondol still used in modern Korean homes?

The traditional wood-fire version is rare today, but a modern version — hot water circulating through pipes under the floor — is standard in nearly all Korean homes and apartments.

Where can visitors experience a hanok?

Hanok village areas in cities like Seoul (Bukchon) and Jeonju preserve clusters of traditional houses, and many now operate as guesthouses where visitors can stay overnight.