Since its reopening last October, Seoul’s Samcheonggak Center has quickly become recognized among Seoulites as a popular performing arts and cultural center. The site was originally built as a meeting place for the historic meeting between members of the North Korean and South Korean Red Cross during the South-North Joint Declaration in 1972. For the next 25 years, the center served as a Gisaeng House featuring professional hostesses similar to Japan’s geishas. In 1999 the site closed to undergo a major overhaul, reopening last October as a multipurpose venue and home of various performing arts forms that are solely devoted to teaching Korean and foreigners about the traditional performances of Korea. The Center now features a performing arts complex, cultural classes, a traditional hotel and a restaurant.

Located in this pristine mountain setting in the heart of Seoul, Samcheonggak which is literally translated as “Three Purity Palace—Jade Purity, Noble Purity and Great Purity” is located along one of the city’s most famous cultural corridors, near such attractions as Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Folk Museum, the traditional Korean home preservation district of Gahoe-dong, the world famous "antique" street of Insa-dong, numerous private art museums, and the Bear House Restaurant, known for its spectacular views. Further, the Center’s proximity to the Blue House, the presidential residence, has ensured that the wooded forest area around the complex has remained virtually untouched for the last half century.

Samcheonggak now features six buildings, each serving a distinct purpose. Ilhwa Hall (Hall of Harmonious Union), which was originally built to host the historic meeting, now serves as a multipurpose performance space. Ilhwa Hall also accommodates a tearoom and a Korean restaurant with fabulous views of the city. Two adjacent buildings Chongchon Hall (Hall of Listening to Springs) and Chonchu Hall (Hall of a Thousand Autumns) offer a variety of courses, ranging in length from a half day to four-months, on traditional ceremonies and arts, such as tea ceremonies, pottery and calligraphy. The Yuha Pavilion (Hall of Deep Glow) is an eight-sided pavilion that offers more individualized performances such as pansori (Korean narrative song), taegum (transverse flute) and Kayagum (12-stringed zither). Finally, Chuihan Hall (Hall of Jade-Green Coolness) and Tongbaek Hall (Hall of Eastern Brightness) recreate a “hanok” or Korean-style home and are available for rent either with traditional style Korean mattress or western beds. Room rentals begin at $200 per night, including breakfast. The buildings of Samcheonggak are also available for rental to international meeting planners. For more information about Seoul’s Samcheonggak Center visit the internet at www.samcheonggak.or.kr.